Tyree Evans Won't be a Terp

Looks like basketball JuCo transfer Tyree Evans has withdrawn his application for consideration by University of  Maryland. With this, the much-debated saga concerning whether Maryland should take the 6-3 shooting guard with a notable criminal past is over. Evans' old coach at Motlow State Community College, Bobby Steinburg, contends that Evans made the decision on his own, without pressure or prodding from Maryland head coach Gary Williams.

Word from Maryland confirms it was Evans who decided he wouldn't set foot in College Park next school year, since his announcement came when his application file was still open and under review. Supposedly Evans had enough of the controversy before he even officially joined the team.

"Hearing about all that stuff and people started telling him, it was just constantly a struggle, it seemed like every day it was something new,'' Steinburg told the Baltimore Sun in a recent article. "He and I just talked about it two days ago, and said, 'Let's go ahead and opt out. "

Some are speculating that Williams found out that Evans would not be admitted and then let Evans know, thus saving all parties concerned the embarrassment that would come with his rejection. Either way, the whole ordeal is exactly the opposite of what Williams and Maryland need.

First, they stop recruiting PG Bobby Maze, who eventually signed with Tennessee, to pursue Evans. In that move Gary went for the high-risk/high-reward player in Evans--a gamble likely driven by the Terps's recent slippage into indefinite mediocrity. Now they are stuck with neither Maze nor Evans.

I hope Williams at least enjoys the pie as he licks it off his face. Not only did the Terps lose out on both Maze and Evans, but Williams bashers are starting to climb a little higher on their soapboxes. At least those who opposed Evans joining the team could, Williams hoped, be quieted by the guard's outstanding play. Now that the move has blown up in Williams' face he has nothing to hide behind.

Much more information will surely come out during the next few days. It will be interesting to see where Evans ends up. For his future coach's sake, I hope whoever that man is has paid attention to this "How Not To" lesson provided by Williams.

As I wrote a few weeks ago, Williams went all-in with the recruitment of Evans. Little did he know he would be forced to fold before the games even started. --- Sorry this is brief and without a picture. I am writing this from my hotel in Nicaragua, so I hope you forgive me for the Spartan-like quality of this post. I will return to writing real posts when I re-enter the country next week.
Topics: Tyree Evans