HYATTSVILLE, Md. -- Putnam Science Academy (Conn.) four-star guard Eric Ayala discussed his recruitment last weekend while participating in the National High School Hoops Festival at Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic, and while there’s still a question of whether or not the 6-foot-3, 180-pound combo guard will remain a 2018 prospect or reclassify back to his original year, 2017, it appears Maryland will be a major player either way.

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Ayala already has offers from more than a dozen high-major programs, most recently Syracuse and Memphis within the last week, but he has been a Terps target for quite some time and is no stranger to College Park.

In fact, Ayala visited Maryland with his high school team twice in the last two weeks, both times to see the Terps in action. Ayala took in Xfinity Center, which he called “a great atmosphere to be in,” and watched Maryland beat Oklahoma State, 71-70, Dec. 3 and then Saint Peter’s, 66-56, a week later.

On his visit, Ayala said the Terps did an excellent job of making him feel welcomed and he even had an opportunity to catch up with head coach Mark Turgeon.

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