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Maryland has offered scholarships to a pair of 2015 shooting guards -- Prince Ali (No. 10 SG, No. 38 National) and Eric Davis (No. 7 SG, No. 31 National).
Davis is a 6-3, 172 lbs., guard out of Saginaw, Mich. with 25 scholarship offers sitting in his lap and, likely, a giant grin on his face. Maryland is the seventh Big Ten school to offer Davis, with Michigan State one of the front-runners for his highly coveted services.
Physically, Davis isn't a jaw-dropping specimen. He looks rather unassuming, a young man who hasn't filled out with a reserved demeanor. On the court his persona changes, going from lanky high school teen to black mamba as soon as he laces up. Davis has all the intangibles a play maker requires.
The soft-spoken guard has been a leader on the Saginaw Arthur Hill High School (Mich.) team since his freshman year, maintaining the role of playmaker until the upperclassmen departed and he could unleash the true bucket-getting beast withing. Last season, Davis averaged 27 points, four assists and three steals during a Class A Player of the year campaign.
His early role as a facilitator has imbued him with point guard skills that could translate well at the next level as a secondary or even lead ball handler, but his money will come from putting points on the board. Davis plans to make a decision by early October.
The Family G Eric Davis picks up an offer from Maryland. #BigTen #D1 @TheFamily_bball
— The EYBL Circuit (@D1Circuit) July 16, 2014
Ali, a 6-4, 190 lbs., guard out of Miami, Fla., committed to UConn back in November, but recently de-committed and entered himself back into the recruiting ring. Both Lousiville and Maryland have offered the Sagemont School (Fla.) product a scholarship this week, but Ali is said to be leaning towards the storied hardwood history (and perfect weather) at UCLA.
Southern Stampede G Prince Ali (@Princesmoove23) picks up an offer from Maryland. #BigTen #D1 @Southstampede
— The EYBL Circuit (@D1Circuit) July 16, 2014
Ali is a springy 2 guard with a knack for explosive finishes and breathtaking mid-air acrobatics. The sky is his territory, and he dominates as easily off the ground as any aerial predator. His athleticism and wingspan make him a superb rebounder and a nightmare for undersized guards to square off against. A one-man, high-flying highlight reel all season long, Ali led Sagemont to a 33-0 record and Class 3A State Title in Florida this season with averages of 20 points and six rebounds per game.
As impressive as he was at Sagemont, Ali has been even better on the elite Nike EYBL circuit, gliding to the basket with graceful aplomb en route to 21.8 points per game while morphing himself into a deep threat (39% shooting on threes). Ali has not given a specific timetable for a decision yet, as his family is very involved with where the young stud lands, and wants to make sure they choose the right environment for his prodigious talents to blossom.