Morsell commits to Maryland

The Terps’ 2017 recruiting class is starting to take shape, as Baltimore (Md.) Mount St. Joseph four-star guard Darryl Morsell announced his commitment to Maryland Nov. 2.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound combo guard recently narrowed down his decision to the Terps and Notre Dame, but ultimately the local prospect chose the hometown school and became Maryland’s second pledge to the 2017 class.

Morsell officially visited College Park over Maryland’s Homecoming weekend and told TSR afterward that getting to spend some quality time with the Terps players and coaches was the highlight of his trip.

“It went well,” Morsell said of his official to Maryland. “I spent a lot more time with the players and the coaches. We went out to dinner. I got to play pickup with them a little bit. And we went to the football game on campus.”

The Baltimore native also took officials to Notre Dame and Villanova, but an in-home visit with Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon last week might have sealed the deal for the Terps.

A high-IQ player with good floor vision, Morsell can play both guard positions and is considered more of a slasher than a pure shooter. He has also been described by Turgeon and others as a “tough” guard that can bring a gritty mentality to the floor for the Terps.

Morsell joins 6-foot-10, four-star power forward Bruno Fernando as Maryland’s only commits for 2017 so far, but Turgeon and his staff have their eyes set on several more high-profile recruits in the class such as Trevon Duval, Ike Obiagu and MJ Walker.

Fernando visited Maryland the same weekend as Morsell, so the two newest Terps have already had a chance to feel each other out.

“Bruno [Fernando] was there while I was on my official, too,” Morsell said. “We were together the whole weekend. He’s a cool dude. I definitely like his game. All Saturday night and Sunday he was trying to get me to come there with him, as well.”

Now it will be Morsell’s turn to recruit other players to join him and Fernando in College Park, and his first mission is an obvious one. Morsell is currently teammates at MSJ with Terps top 2018 target Jalen “Sticks” Smith--a 6-foot-9, four-star power forward.

Last time Morsell and TSR spoke, after he took in Maryland Madness, he had this to say about Smith.

“That's my guy,” Morsell said. “We just love competing and we know each other's strengths and weaknesses. We often joke around about colleges but nothing too serious.”