Terps land first commit for 2019 in local three-star ATH Lavonte Gater

With spring football right around the corner in College Park, the Terps landed their first commitment in the 2019 class Feb. 21 in Washington (D.C.) Ballou three-star athlete Lavonte Gater.

The 6-foot, 165-pounder committed to Maryland after visiting the Terps’ College Park campus just a day earlier, choosing Maryland over Big Ten foe Rutgers, Temple and more.

“It’s close to family, close to home,” said Gater when asked why he chose Maryland. “The relationship I have with the coaches is really strong and tight. I feel as though it’s somewhere I can go and come in and play. And my biggest thing was, when I come up there on the campus, how much love they show and how much better it is education-wise, how they have things in place that will better me and my future.”

Gater, who is slotted to play defensive back at Maryland, was initially offered by head coach DJ Durkin back on Feb. 3 during one of Maryland’s junior days, when he also first got to meet new safeties coach Chuck Heater.

Maryland cornerbacks coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim is Gater’s primary recruiter and it isn’t the coach’s first time recruiting the D.C. product. Abdul-Rahim had previously recruited Gater when he was the head coach at Washington (D.C.) Friendship Collegiate.

“Coach Aazaar, I’ve been close with him for a minute,” Gater said. “Him and my head coach are close. When I was coming out of middle school, I was going to Friendship Collegiate to be with Aazaar but he left, so I didn’t go. But four years later, I’m here now and I’ll be able to play under him.”

As the Terps’ first commit for 2019, Gater knows he has a lot to prove. A two-way wide receiver and defensive back, Gater recorded 13 touchdowns and six interceptions as a junior.

“I got to hold myself to a high standard this season and prove to people this is a good choice for me and prove why Maryland took the chance to offer me,” Gater said.

As a local product, it’s to be expected Gater will look to recruit others from the DMV. As for who he might recruit to join him in the class, he wasn’t ready to name any names, but did mention Upper Marlboro (Md.) Wise as a school he’d be recruiting.

“I’ve got a couple of people in mind, a couple of close friends up at Wise in Upper Marlboro and some all around the DMV I’d like to play with my next four years, too."