At Maryland Madness, 7-1 freshman shows skill
Maryland fans got an enticing first look at 7-foot-1 Alex Len on Friday night. They hope it won’t be their last.
With a cartwheel and a slam dunk, the freshman from the Ukraine celebrated his introduction at Maryland Madness. Then he went about the business of scoring 14 points as the Terps’ white team won 42-38 in a loosely-played scrimmage.
Len scored all of his points on dunks, showing why new Terrapins coach Mark Turgeon is anxious to find out whether his services will be available this season. Len is still negotiating the NCAA clearinghouse process. He was allowed to participate on Friday, but can’t practice with the team until a decision is reached.
Len demonstrated good hands, agility, and presence at the basket on a night when Maryland’s other big men also played well.
Redshirt 6-9 freshman Ashton Pankey (eight points), out last year with a stress fracture, had a one-handed slam off a between-the-legs feed from sophomore Pe’Shon Howard. Six-ten senior Berend Weijs (eight points) showed versatility and confidence, whether he received the ball inside or outside.
Among the guards, Howard was the most impressive, scoring nine points and aggressively guiding his White Team, which also got eight points from 6-6 freshman Nick Faust.
An enthusiastic crowd of roughly 7,000 also watched a star-studded alumni game, featuring Greivis Vasquez, Steve Blake, Steve Francis, Eric Hayes, and Chris Wilcox. The White Team won the alumni game, 73-67, with help from guard Johnny Rhodes, who hit three-pointers in both halves, showing he’s lost little despite last suiting up for the Terps more than 15 years ago.
The emotional highlight of the night came when former Maryland coach Gary Williams was introduced, along with the alumni players, and flashed a signature fist to the rafters.
In past years, Williams had emerged on Madness night on motorcycle, in a sports car, and even in a tank. But Turgeon entered in more understated fashion, down the steps from an elevated stage.
Turgeon took a microphone and paid deference to Maryland’s past and talked of his excitement about the future.
