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Maryland men’s basketball lands sharpshooter Michael McNair in portal
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- Maryland men’s basketball lands sharpshooter Michael McNair in portal
Maryland men's basketball may have found the final piece to its offseason rebuild — and, in doing so, addressed its most glaring flaw.
The Terps landed a commitment from Boston University transfer Michael McNair , one of the most efficient high-volume three-point shooters in the country last season, he announced on X . The 6-foot-5-inch guard's perimeter shooting provides a needed boost for coach Buzz Williams' team, which hit just 31.7 percent from three last season — the third-worst mark in the Big Ten.
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The rising senior averaged 16.9 points per game, fourth in the Patriot League, while leading the conference with 110 made three-pointers and shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc on 248 attempts.
He also shot 47.9 percent from the field overall, adding 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 36.1 minutes per game — the second-highest workload in the league.
The first-team All-Patriot League honoree's production translated against a range of competition. He scored 29 points against Lafayette, 28 against Bucknell and knocked down five three-pointers against Navy in the Patriot League semifinals. In two games against Big Ten opponents last season, he combined to shoot 13-for-21 from 3-point range against Northwestern and Penn State .
His addition continues a sweeping offseason overhaul under coach Buzz Williams, who is reshaping a roster that went 12-21 last season, tying a program record for losses. Maryland has emphasized size, defense and rebounding through transfer additions such as Tomislav Buljan , Robert Jennings II and Maban Jabriel, while also reinforcing the backcourt with Bishop Boswell and Arkansas transfer DJ Wagner.
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Wagner, a former five-star recruit, arrives with pedigree and playmaking ability after helping the Razorbacks reach the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16 with 7.6 points per game. But even as Maryland added perimeter talent, consistent outside shooting remained a clear need.
McNair appears positioned to fill that void immediately.
With a highly regarded freshman class incoming, including five-star forward Baba Oladotun , Maryland's roster now blends youth with experience and greater positional balance. McNair's ability to stretch defenses could generate space for returning guard Andre Mills, who logged 12.2 points per game, and for forward Pharrel Payne , should he receive a medical redshirt after contributing 17.5 points and 7.2 rebounds in 10 games.
If McNair is the final addition, Maryland's offseason reshaping may have addressed nearly every major roster gap — leaving shooting, at last, as less of a question than it was just weeks ago.
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Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com , 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes .
