Eric Hayes has not started a game in over a month.

The last time he had a spot in the starting five was in the Maryland men’s basketball team’s Atlantic Coast Conference opener against Boston College.

That does not mean he has not made an impact.

The 6-foot-3 freshman averages 23.9 minutes per game and in his team’s 80-65 victory over Georgia Tech, Hayes posted a career high in points with 12.

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Hayes made a good impression on one of the toughest men to please in all of college basketball — head coach Gary Williams.

“Eric Hayes was a really steadying influence tonight,” Williams said. “He brings a lot of guts. He made really good decisions and I thought he made his free throws.”

Hayes and fellow freshman guard Greivis Vasquez have both been solid players thus far and have been rewarded with significant game time. Williams is hoping that the trial-by-fire experience will pay off later in their careers at Maryland.

“They are going to make mistakes, but they know the coaching staff is working hard to get them up to where they are really good this year,” Williams said. “This year will really help them in the future because they are both getting to play a lot.

“When you recruit a guy hopefully they will come in and play and those guys have done that.”

When Hayes is on the floor, he knows he can score. Thus far, he is more inclined to find the open man for an assist.

When Hayes got seven assists against Georgia Tech, his favorite target was junior forward Bambale Osby.

“He is always looking to pass and get assists,” Osby said. “He wants to get people the ball and he looks for me in practice, too. He is definitely a pass-first type of point guard.”

The pass-first mentality is something Hayes has played with his entire life.

“Growing up all the way up until now, if there is a guy who is open I am not going to hog the ball,” Hayes said. “I am going to find the open guy. That is just something I like to do.”