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    BREAKING NEWS: Greivis Vasquez to Return to College Park

    Hey folks.  Great news.

    It’s not exactly the lead of the story, but it is right there in the second paragraph for all to see.  Greivis Vasquez has apparently announced his intent to return to school for his senior year.  I don’t see any qu0tes from him or Gary Williams; but I wanted to get this up as soon as possible.

    As I have more info, I will update the post.

    Update 4:47PM:  Here’s the official press release….

    COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Junior guard Greivis Vasquez has officially withdrawn his name from the 2009 NBA Draft, meaning he will return to the University of Maryland to play his senior season with the Terrapins.
    Vasquez participated in multiple workouts with more than 25 NBA teams during the past several weeks. Throughout this process, he received tremendous feedback that has assured him he will have a bright future in the NBA. However, to ensure his long-term success after college, Vasquez has decided to return to Maryland for his senior year.
    “After a great deal of thought, consideration and research, I have decided to withdraw my name from the NBA Draft and return to the University of Maryland for my senior year,” Vasquez said. “It has always been a goal of mine to graduate from the University of Maryland and earn my degree. When I signed a scholarship to come to Maryland, I promised my family back home in Venezuela that I would graduate, and doing so in four years here at Maryland will be a great achievement. The experience that I have gained over the past few weeks has been invaluable and something that will help me to better prepare to play professional basketball after my senior season. I would like to thank my family, my coaches and all my teammates who have supported me throughout this process.”
    The native of Caracas, Venezuela, led the Terrapins last season in scoring (17.5 ppg), rebounding (5.4 rpg) and assists (5.0 apg). He is excited about the 2009-10 season.
    “I believe we can really be a great team this upcoming season, and I am looking forward to working hard this summer with my teammates to make that happen,” Vasquez said. “We had a great finish to the season last year, and if we keep working really hard, we can have a successful season.”
    Vasquez will be part of a three-member senior class for the 2009-10 Maryland season that includes guard Eric Hayes and forward Landon Milbourne. The Terrapins will return four starters from last year’s team that went 21-14 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
    “We are very excited that Greivis has decided to return to Maryland for his senior season,” head coach Gary Williams said. “Greivis was able to work out for many teams and was able to talk to many teams about achieving his dream of playing in the NBA someday. I know that he received some great feedback from many NBA teams, not only about his play on the court, but also his competitiveness and professionalism throughout the process. I truly believe he will be one of the best players in the country in college basketball as a senior, and we are looking forward to this upcoming season.”
    Author: Jeremy |June 15th, 2009 | Tags: , | 41 comments

    • Ricksterps
      Good catch Mr. Cavendish. I guess there is just too much swirling around this kid for the Terps to take a shot at him. It will be interesting to see where he ends up.

      I like having that extra 'ship in our pocket for next year.
    • DiamondbackRuss
      So we're off the BR Circus LOL. Good luck to that kid wherever he lands, he certainly had his chance to be a Terp but clearly he didn't really want to be one. And Ricksterps you bring up a good point, we can roll that 'ship into 2010.

      And I'm still tracking the buzz on a former Terp target. Late June/early July could be interesting times.
    • Ricksterps
      DBR coming strong with the inside info. Love it.
    • Markmax33
      We need more a teaser than that DBR. I can't infer enough from that statement...
    • Markmax33
      Painter, dude that went to penn state, can't think of anyone else fun...
    • Mr. Cavendish
      Apparently, Md has ended its recruitment of BR. Please read 5th paragraph.

      Still, great news anyway today.

      http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/bask...
    • thanks Kev. I didn't even notice the link at the bottom of the Sun article until you mentioned it. In case others missed it...

      http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/bask...

      It's all the way at the bottom along with some other Terp links.
    • JerseyTerp
      Lance Stephenson may consider Maryland as his best option w/ Vasquez back. Despite the one-n-done and other issues he'll bring, BR's athleticism makes him an NBA-caliber player.

      Mw, Maryland Athletic Dept. must investigate if his website will cost BR academic eligibility as a professional, rather than an amateur. If it doesn't, I can see BR, Vazquez, Milbourne, Hayes, Padgett, Williams, and the rest win 10-12 ACC and 24-26 overall and make an Elite 8 appearance, depending on where NCAA selection places us. And, this could translate into a better future under GW w/ Stoglin and Ross if BR stays an additional year (but I doubt that).
    • DiamondbackRuss
      JerseyTerp, the website you refer to cannot cost Lance his academic eligibility because the website has no bearing on his grades or his ACT or SAT scores. So the investigation of the website and any monies it generates would be an issue for Lance's amateur status. And if the website voids his amatuer status it wouldn't matter if the kid scored a 1,600 on the SAT, he wouldn't get an athletic scholarship.
    • Jersey Terp
      Thanks for the clarification, DBR.

      I believe it may have been the sexual assault charges - similar to an earlier recruit from last year. Can't remember his name.
    • DiamondbackRuss
      No problem. You're probably thinking of Tyree Evans, the JuCo kid. However in Evans case I think he actually had sex with the girl. I think Stephenson and one of his teammates are accused of grabbing this girl on her buttocks or her breasts, out in public across the street from Lincoln HS after school let out. Yet there are no witnesses. Just her word against Stephenson and the other player.

      Not passing judgement, just passing info LOL
    • KevBlack
      Also props to Turtle Soup on getting liked from the Baltimore Sun! You guys have made this the top Destination for Terp fans across the internets!
    • hartz
      Nice work on the Scoop Turtle Soup. Glad to see everyone still invested in getting the team back to the Championship.
    • terps96
      While BR destroying chemistry is a big concern for me, I think that him and GV would feed well off each. With GV dishing and scoring when needed and BR just focusing on scoring, Tucker would probably be the one who we would never hear from again. Now I can focus all of my prayers to getting Parker to commit.
    • Ricksterps
      Lots of bad history regarding kids coming into their senior year thinking it is just a big audition for the NBA. Gary basically threw the whole class of Simpkins, Hipp etc. under that blanket in the Feinstein book. He said they all came in thinking about doing certain things they thought the pros wanted to see.

      I hope GV doesn't fall into that trap. Although if he wants to show the scouts he can pass without making dumb TOs I'm down with that :)
    • If BR wants to come here, roll out the red carpet.
    • Wheels
      Gregg..like you, I was at MD for Exree "Laid Back" Hipp's senior season, but I think GV is way more competitive than Ex was. I think GV's NBA flirt will raise his game because it exposed him...again...to the best competition amid the big stress environment. Hopefully, what he gleaned from the process will guide him in his off season workouts. Shoot better...lift a few more weights...work on the decision making.

      The other thing to think about this, too, is GV's serious chip on the shoulder syndrome. Instead of railing at fans, he will rail at NBA scouts. That will fire him up. Forget the fans..prove it to the NBA types. Hopefully, this focuses him more.
    • KevBlack
      I remember being in Cole Exree's senior season, thinking "well this guy fucked himself." I just hope GV uses his senior season to calm down and play smart so he can impress the scouts. no more arguing with the crowd and last minute three pointers when we have the game wrapped up. Welcome back GV make us even prouder this year!
    • talaya7
      Yeah, Terrence Morris went from being a 1st round pick to a second round pick by coming back for his senior yer, too.

      I'll add my voice to the "welcome back, GV" echo chamber. My take is that GV is easily worth 4 ACC wins. So with today's announcement the Terps went from a 7 to 9 ACC Wins to 11 to 13 ACC wins, IMO.

      Regarding BR, his scoring potential is the missing ingredient for the Terps to vie for a National Championship in 2010. If BR signs and he lives up to his billing, he could be worth 2 more ACC wins. If BR signs and becomes a cancer, then he will subtract 2. It's worth the risk, IMO....any team that wins 15 in the ACC will vie for the NC, and that would be the upside with BR. Without BR, the Terps will be a solid #4 seed come NCAA Tourney time, which is pretty good, just not a likely NC.
    • DiamondbackRuss
    • Gregg
      I have one fear. I really don't think this will happen, but those who remember Exree Hipp will remember that before his senior year, NBA folks/agents told him he needed to bulk up in order to make it in the league. He spent the summer getting bigger and thus losing his burst. He had a horrible senior year and ended up with the Harlem Globetrotters.

      I hope GV doesn't take this year and just worry about what can make him better in the eyes of NBA scouts.

      Like I said, he doesn't seem like a guy who would do that, but it's worth watching.
    • Dan C
      I thought Exree spent that summer,as Jeremy would say "smoking dope and fu%$ing with hos"
    • PC
      I'm not sure this prevents BR from wanting to come to UM. GV knows his only shot in the NBA is at the point. BR will actually let him become more of a PG since he will actually have a legit scorer to pass it too. BR wants to be on a championship caliber team and knows he can't do it by himself. With GV at the point and a bunch of good role players at the other positions UM becomes a legit Top 20 team and he is the #1 scoring option. Remember he wanted to go to Kansas, and they have better players than the Terps coming back next year.
    • okaybowler
      fully agree, PC. I think BR would take a lot of the pressure off GV (even though he likes the pressure) and allow him to be more of a natural point guard, which would be his niche in the Assoc. Kind of like Stevie B.
    • kaze
      Ricksterps as usual hits it dead-on....the reason I can say this is that we almost always agree. Never thought my boy Greivis Vasquez, whom I love like the son I never had, would leave Gary without putting a banner up there in the rafters. And part two of this prediction is that we need Lance Stephenson on this team like a hole in the head, and it's probably not happening no matter what. If he played in the paint, that might--might--be a different story. Great chemistry, two seniors in the backcourt, young bigs up front, role players learning like mad and maybe a break-out year for Mosely and Tucker....time to fire up the barbee tonight. A suggestion: At 8:00 EDT tonight, let's all simultaneously raise a congratulatory glass to our fellow Soupers! Mark....
    • Ricksterps
      I defer to you on all GV related topics. He is your son after all. That kid loves Gary though. The quote I saw on the Post was "Love you coach" right after they met.
    • Mike
      This is great news. And GV showed a great amount of maturity by going through the process, which will serve him well next year, and not allowing himself to be sucked into the draft when it apparently would not have been the best thing for him. CONGRATS GREIVIS, I'M GLAD YOU ARE BACK FOR YOUR SENIOR YEAR. IMPART ALL OF YOUR ENTHUSIASM, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK, AND YOUR LOVE FOR GARY TO THE NEW GUYS!
    • Does anybody think there would be room for both GV and BR? Would the Terps be better or would it be utter chaos?
    • DiamondbackRuss
      In that scenario, Greivis would likely slide back to PG. With BR on the team and legitimate big men Greivis probably would average 7 assists a game.
    • Ricksterps
      I agree about the impact on BR. He is a one and done and won't want to spend that one year being the second banana at best.
    • Gregg
      I'm glad to be wrong about Vaz. He really handled the process well and made the right decision. Not because we all wanted him back, but this was clearly the right decision for him as long as his family is not in a dire financial place.

      As for BR, I would not imagine he would come here now. If all we hear about the kid is true, he wants to be "the man" and put up big numbers to go pro next year. With GV back, that will not happen. Now, if he comes around and realizes he could play on a great team with some great players and thrive that way, then it would probably be a good decision for him to come here.

      Who knows, but the last thing we need now is a malcontent messing up the chemistry the team has built for the last couple of years. Not that I'm calling him that, but if he comes and is truly a team player, the sky is the limit for these guys.
    • CT
      This is great news for the Terps - and yes, disappointing for all the Vasquez haters out there.
    • DiamondbackRuss
      In the previous thread, someone asked about player updates. I do know that Steve Goins has dropped weight and played well at the camp Gary had over the weekend.
    • Lee
      Greivis really did play this smart. He went, showed his stuff, got some experience, figured out what he needs to work on, kept a level head, said all the right things, and is coming back to own the ACC. Step 1 is complete, on to Step 2 which is signing Born Ready. You all know what Step 3 is, and it's oh so much fun to enjoy...
    • NYMets9631
      This is awesome, maybe my prediction of National Champs will come true for next year haha (yes DBR knows what I am talking about!). But not to get too far ahead of ourselves, let's just celebrate and be happy, going to have a really good team with GV back. And by the way, Gary will continue to cement his legacy with another good year this coming season!
    • Dan C
      In 6 months, when we all are screaming at GV for his shot selection and forced passes, that this is what us Terp fans wanted more then Bourne ready .
    • DiamondbackRuss
      It's Born ready unlike Jason Bourne.

      But it's not a Greivis or Lance Stephenson issue. An offer is still on the table for Lance as it has been for close to six months now. And if he wants to be a terp he can commit because we still have room. So now, 5 mins from now, an hour from now, midnight tonight...whenever he can commit to UMD. The ball is in Lance's court.

      But keeping our leading scorer, leading assist man and leading rebounder is HUGE!

      And give Greivis his props. He went thru the process, kept a level head, listened to the RIGHT people and made the best decision for him based on the information he gathered during the process. Can't be mad at that.
    • PT
      Yes, great news and the best decision for Vasquez. Expectations will now be higher for next season and I'm pumped about that.
    • Ricksterps
      Glad he is coming back, I just never understood the argument that he was going. It just made no sense for him. He was going to be a second round pick at best and that is NO guaranteed money at all.

      Great decision for him and the Terps.
    • Grayson73
      Article dedicated only to Greivis!

      http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/news/st...

      I'm so excited about next year now, with or without Lance!
    • DiamondbackRuss
      HUGE...HUGE...HUGE.

      And now I know why I couldn't get on the site, to post the news, Jeremy was updating it LOL. THIS is huge for the Terps!
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