After a month-and-a-half of Terrapin basketball die-hards salivating at the thought of five-star recruit Terrence Jennings joining the team in 2008, the 6-foot-10-inches forward from North Carolina’s Mt. Zion Christian Academy has withdrawn his oral commitment to play for the Terps.
“I didn’t take the visits I needed to take,” Jennings told Rivals.com “I just want to make sure and know I’m doing the right thing.”
After taking some heat for recruiting less-heralded players during the past few years, coach Gary Williams put a stamp on the 2008 class by landing Jennings and Baltimore shooting guard Sean Moseley.
Now, it’s beginning to look less promising.
Jennings, who is listed by Rivals.com as the fifth-best power forward and 15th-best player overall in his class, said the Terps are still very high on his list. The Sacramento, California native plans to make an official visit to the school on Oct. 12 for Maryland Madness.
Rivals basketball analyst Jerry Meyer said the Terps and Kentucky are the likely frontrunners to eventually land Jennings.
The power forward’s unexpected early decision to commit to the Terps makes his decision to pull out less shocking.
“I’m not surprised because decommitments happen all the time,” Meyer said. “He’s been around the block, been to different high schools. There is a certain amount of instability there.”
His sudden move had a different effect on his head coach at Mt. Zion.
“It’s a surprise to me,” said Tony Fozard, Jennings’ high school coach, in an interview with The (Baltimore) Sun. “He wanted to open up his decision. It’s a decision him and his father decided to do. I’m leaving it in their hands.”
Jennings averaged 14 points and four blocks per game last year as a junior. He is praised as being a good finisher and a shot-blocking presence defensively. At 230 pounds, he would add much-needed bulk to the Terps’ front line Jennings was not able to be reached. His phone was disconnected as of last night.
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