Maryland men’s basketball lands Belmont transfer guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie

Maryland men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard has been tasked with revamping a poorly constructed roster that finished with a 16-17 record in the 2023-24 season — just the second time the Terps have finished below .500 in the last 30 years.

The pieces are starting to come together. Belmont transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie has committed to Maryland, he announced on X Wednesday evening.

Gillespie visited Maryland last weekend and was one of the most highly-sought after guards in the portal, but ultimately chose the Terps.

Gillespie averaged 17.2 points, 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds on outstanding efficiency in his most recent season for the Bruins. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard shot 56.1 percent from the field, 38.7 percent from beyond the arc and 83.1 percent from the free-throw line. 

Those numbers earned Gillespie second team All-MVC honors despite missing eight games. The Tennessee native shined on both ends of the court, earning first team All-MVC defensive honors behind 2.2 steals per game.

Gillespie should slot into the starting point guard spot vacated by All-Big Ten first team selection Jahmir Young. His ball-handling and scoring abilities address a huge need for a Maryland team that struggled offensively all year long. And his defensive prowess makes him a great match for a defensive-minded coach in Willard, who likes to press with his guards and force turnovers.

Maryland has had success in recent years with mid-major point guard transfers in Young and former Rhode Island guard Fatts Russell. Several transfers from the Missouri Valley Conference enjoyed success in the Big Ten this season, most notably Illinois All-Big Ten first team selection Marcus Domask.

Gillespie has two years of eligibility remaining and fills the second of three scholarship spots that opened with Noah Batchelor, Caelum Swanton-Rodger and Jahnathan Lamothe entering the transfer portal.

Willard and his staff have clearly placed an emphasis on finding guards who can score and take on ball-handling duties. Maryland’s other early portal acquisition — Virginia Tech transfer Rodney Rice — represents another high-upside backcourt option.

Players have until May 1 to enter the transfer portal, so more scholarship spots could open up. But for now, Maryland has one remaining roster spot to fill. In Gillespie, the Terps picked up a big-time player who should headline what has the potential to be a strong transfer class.