Maryland men’s basketball fans will remember the 2023-24 season as the year Jahmir Young had to do everything. It wouldn’t be a surprise to watch head coach Buzz Williams’ first squad in College Park follow
a similar load share; but it won’t be from his point guard.
Senior center Pharrel Payne followed Williams to Maryland from Texas A&M with high expectations for what he could provide the Terps. He made them even higher in their preseason exhibition Monday against UMBC.
Payne did whatever he wanted against the Retrievers. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound center was a physical force to be reckoned with and showcased impressive finishing ability, with 26 points and nine rebounds.
“Pharrell is one of the best big men in the country,” freshman guard Darius Adams said.
But more concerning for the Terps was the lack of production from the frontcourt around him. It’s a thin unit, especially now that forward senior Solomon Washington — another Texas A&M transfer — is expected to miss time to start the year with an ankle sprain.
Washington averaged just 4.7 points in 23 minutes per game, but will instantly become one of the best defenders in the Big Ten once he’s back. That may not happen for a few games, though.
The trio of Elijah Saunders, Collin Metcalf and Aleks Alston is going to need to find answers on how to create production away from Payne. Saunders was always an expected starter — at minimum, a key bench piece — but Alston and Metcalf may find themselves in larger roles than anticipated to begin the year.
Saunders was a consistent starter in 2023-24 at San Diego State and in 2024-25 at Virginia, averaging 10.4 points and five rebounds per game in his lone season as a Cavalier. He brings much-needed experience to the lineup.
But there’s room for concern from his showing against UMBC. Saunders woke up in the second half, but was just 0-of-3 from the field with three turnovers in the first half. The senior finished with 13 points, three rebounds and three assists.
“Just trying to find my spot, find be confident in the spots that I’m in, and just being more aggressive,” Saunders said after the game.
With Washington out, Saunders figures to slot in as the starting four. If the Terps want a scoring-first lineup with three forwards, look for another Texas A&M transfer — George Turkson Jr. — to play the three. The 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman is listed as a guard, but Williams referred to him as a forward in the press conference following the UMBC exhibition.
The biggest season-long question for the frontcourt is how Williams will manage the center position when Payne is out of the game. Neither Saunders nor Washington have ideal size to play center.
Metcalf seems like the obvious answer, listed as a center with enough stature to handle the paint. He was a monster at Northeastern in the Coastal Athletic Association, averaging 2.4 blocks per game last season — 10th most in the country. But that was at a much lower level of competition, and he only contributed four points per game. Metcalf played just one minute against UMBC and did not record a stat.
The wild card for the group is Alston, a freshman. The former three-star recruit’s physical tools stand out immediately; he’s 6-foot-10, lengthy, mobile and can shoot from beyond the arc. But Monday’s exhibition proved he is far from ready for a big role. Alston had just one point and two rebounds in 15 minutes, frequently looking out of place on both ends of the court.
Unfortunately for the Terps, they may not have time to let him develop. Washington’s absence and Metcalf’s limited action in the exhibition mean Alston may be high in the forward rotation to start the season.
“His improvement has been really impressive from time that he got here, to the start of bootcamp and individuals to now,” Saunders said. “He’s changed a lot in how hard he competes.”
