Five-star forward Billy Preston cuts list, has Terps in Top 4

Dallas (Texas) API five-star power forward Billy Preston cut the list of schools he's considering down to four, including Maryland, on Thursday night.

Preston's interest in Maryland first became known back in June, when he told TSR at the NBPA Top 100 camp that he hoped to hear from Maryland coaches due to his friendship with current Terps freshman big man Diamond Stone.

Maryland began reaching out to the 6-foot-9, 220-pounder over the summer and have actively recruited him since.

Preston, a Los Angeles native, visited Maryland in late August ahead of the Under Armour Elite 24 in New York City and then again in December with his API team which was in town for a tournament at DeMatha.

"People talking to me the most is Maryland, Arizona, SC, those three" Preston told TSR in December.

"It was great. The fanbase was great. As soon as me and Trey [Duval] got off the van and walked into the gym, people were screaming our name," Preston said of his December visit with his API teammates. "It was crazy. The fanbase is great, the campus is great."

Maryland coaches have also been frequent visitors at Dallas-based API, where they are recruiting Preston along with fellow 2017 five-star Trevon Duval and 2016 five-star shooting guard Terrance Ferguson, who recently reopened his recruitment after decommitting from Alabama.

Preston teamed with incoming St. John's (D.C.) point guard Anthony Cowan at the Under Armour All-America Camp in Charlotte and frequently hears from the four-star, as well.

Preston is currently the No. 6-ranked player nationally in the 2017 class by Rivals.