After three rotation players decided to transfer from the Maryland women’s basketball team on April 4, four-star class of 2017 point guard Channise Lewis committed to the Terps on Sunday, according to her Twitter.
The sign says it all #TerpNation ???????????? @umdwbb pic.twitter.com/j0Wbw5ixVI
— Ms.4peat (@channise_3) April 23, 2017
Lewis had previously committed to Illinois but was released from her national letter of intent after the Illini fired head coach Matt Bollant in March.
The Miami Country Day School senior, ranked No. 77 in the espnW HoopGurlz Top 100 recruiting class of 2017, is the only member of Maryland’s recruiting class this fall.
Lewis enters a wide-open competition at point guard, a position vacated by Destiny Slocum, who transferred after her record-breaking freshman season. Slocum averaged 11.1 points and six assists per game last year. She was named the National Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Slocum headlined the Terps’ No. 1 recruiting class last season, which initially included six players. Now, the group is down to four after Slocum and center Jenna Staiti announced their intentions to transfer from College Park.
That class appeared to necessitate a quiet recruiting cycle for coach Brenda Frese in 2017, but the departures of Slocum, Staiti and forward Kiah Gillespie left the Terps with 10 returners on their roster entering the fall. In addition, Florida transfer Eleanna Christinaki is not eligible to start the season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Maryland, Ohio State and Purdue were all interested in Lewis while she decided whether to leave Illinois, according to espnW. The News-Gazette of Champaign, Illinois reported she took an official visit to Maryland last weekend.
The Terps also have two verbal commitments for the class of 2018, as five-star center Shakira Austin and four-star guard Taylor Mikesell have announced their intentions to play for Maryland.