Duke grad transfer Sean Obi commits to Maryland

Duke graduate transfer Sean Obi has committed to Maryland, sources told TSR Thursday evening.

A 6-foot-9, 255-pound power forward, Obi averaged 11.4 points and a Conference USA-best 9.3 rebounds per game as a freshman at Rice University.

“We are excited to welcome Sean to Maryland,” head coach Mark Turgeon said in a statement. “As a graduate transfer, he brings high character, experience and maturity to our team. Sean is a good rebounder and gives us another physical presence inside. He is also a very good student. Sean is healthy and ready to contribute.”

A Nigeria native, Obi spent the past three seasons at Duke, but played a total of just 27 minutes of action over 10 games for the Blue Devils, sitting out the 2014-2015 season after transferring from Rice and then missing the entire 2016-2017 season after undergoing knee surgery last June.

"I am very appreciative to have the opportunity to attend the University of Maryland," said Obi. "I want to thank Coach Turgeon and the staff. I immediately created a unique bond with the coaches during my visit. Maryland is a place where I am confident I can make a major impact. The campus is also in very close proximity to where my family lives and they'll be able to come see me play. Maryland is a great University with outstanding tradition and I am very excited to be a part of it. I am looking forward to playing for Coach Turgeon and doing something special with a great group of guys next year."

Obi, who chose the Terps over Georgetown after visiting both earlier in the week, is set to earn his degree in sociology with a minor in marketing from Duke in May and plans to enroll in graduate school at Maryland in June. He is immediately eligible and should bring some much needed depth and experience to a Terps front court that struggled rebounding at times last season.