TERRAPINS 101

 

Maryland forward Mychal Parker will transfer after his second season in College Park in an effort to find more playing time in a different program.

According to The Recruit Scoop, Parker recently met with Terps head coach Mark Turgeon. And due to the incoming crop of players, the two agreed he and Maryland not a good fit at this time.

Recently, I met with Coach Turgeon and he informed me that I should probably start looking at other options as he expected my opportunities on the court at Maryland to decrease due to his incoming recruits. Up until this meeting, it was my intention to continue to work hard and graduate from Maryland. I highly respect Coach Turgeon as a person for his honesty in this situation. I am never the person to back away from a challenge and would never be scared to compete for a spot.

Unfortunately, after many sleepless and prayerful nights, I came to the realization that it may be in my best interest to continue my education and career at another institution. In the end, it's best to be where you are wanted and needed the most. This is the toughest decision of my life, and it is something I never thought I would have to do, even up until just a few weeks ago. I have no hard feelings towards the Maryland staff, and I completely understand the business side of things and will always consider myself a Terp for life.

Playing for one of college basketball's greatest coaches of all-time in Gary Williams was a dream come true. I also enjoyed my time under Coach Turgeon, whose understanding and teaching of the game really brought my play to a whole new level. My goal from Day 1 of verbally committing to the University of Maryland was to graduate and then fulfill my lifelong dream of playing in the NBA. Until recently, I believed I was on track to accomplish these two very important goals. I have only recently learned what it takes in terms of my work ethic both on and off the court to reach these lofty aspirations. My whole life, I've relied on my God-given abilities, and Coach Turgeon has helped me to understand the type of work it takes to reach the next level. Coming from a very poor and rural town in Eastern North Carolina, it was an amazing blessing for Maryland to give me such a tremendous opportunity, and I am forever indebted.

The Recruit Scoop reports East Carolina and the University of Alabama-Birmingham have shown interest in Parker. Also, Loyola (MD) had recruited Parker out of high school. Parker wants a school close to his hometown of Washington, N.C.

As a high school at the Miller School in Crozet, Va., Parker was rated as a four-star small forward, the No. 13 player in the state and 60^th in the nation. He chose the Terps over Clemson, East Carolina, Florida, Miami (FL) and Virginia.

As a freshman under then-coach Williams in 2011-11, Parker played sparingly. Williams was not a fan of Parker’s practice habits.

Last season, Parker averaged four points and three bounds in 31 games (three starts). Parker shot 44 percent from the field and ranked fourth on the team in steals.

Due to the emergence of Nick Faust (who will slide back to SG/SF with Pe’Shon Howard returning), incoming recruit Jake Layman joining the program and Michigan transfer Evan Smotrycz possibly becoming a Terp, Parker was losing opportunities for playing time.

Tags: East Carolina, Evan Smotrycz, Gary Williams, Jake Layman, Mark Turgeon, Maryland, Maryland Terrapins, Michigan, NCAA, Nick Faust, Terps

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