After previewing Maryland men’s basketball’s frontcourt and backcourt, Testudo Times now turns to a preview of the freshmen class. Be on the lookout for our preseason predictions in the coming days.
Amidst Maryland’s disastrous 2025-26 season, many fans looked to head coach Buzz Williams’ recruiting efforts for a glimmer of hope for better days. Williams provided Terps fans with a recruiting haul that exceeded all expectations.
Maryland’s four-man freshman class — whom Williams has nicknamed “The Wolfpack” — ranked the 14th-best in the nation, according to 247Sports. Each of the four additions will help fill the holes that should prevent the Terps from falling to the same depths as their 12-21 finish last season.
Baba Oladotun has endless potential but faces likely growing pains
The news of Oladotun’s commitment to Maryland came during its overtime victory over Mount St. Mary’s last season, sending massive cheers through the student section. Assistant coach Aki Collins — who recruited Oladotun since age 14 during his time at Overtime Elite — said that the freshman almost chose to attend another local powerhouse.
“On Monday before he committed, so literally the day before he committed, he was going to Georgetown. He was going to Georgetown,” Collins said, adding that Williams’ relationship with Oladotun’s father, Ibrahim Oladotun, was key in inking the deal in the waning hours.
The 6-foot-10 five-star small forward from Silver Spring, Maryland, ranked No. 9 in the nation, has drawn comparisons with Kevin Durant, another DMV talent whose EYBL team Oladotun played for. His lanky frame and his aptitude for mid-range jumpers both back up these evaluations.
However, fans may have to wait to see Oladotun at his best. The forward graduated high school a year early, making him 17 years old by the season opener against Bucknell. Oladotun’s rush into college basketball may not have given him ample time to bulk up for Big Ten competition.
Oladotun gained 10 pounds during the offseason, putting his weight at 205 pounds, which is still the lightest out of all of Maryland’s bigs. That size disadvantage showed up in the Terps’ two open preseason exhibitions, where he scored just five points and made one field goal as he struggled to create space when defenders smothered him on the perimeter.
Oladotun may not be a consistent starter this season and looks like he may be a multi-year collegiate player if he can’t put on size quickly. But with his work ethic and raw talent, he should still provide unique skills to the hardwood that few others in the nation can.
“I want to come in here and just be able to win, be able to do what I have to do,” Oladotun said. “I don’t have any real awards that I’m too focused on right now because our team is so deep. So I’m just ready to impact right away and really impact winning.”
Kaden House will shock the Big Ten
House may have flown under the radar during Williams’ massive recruiting cycle, but he found his footing quicker than most of Maryland’s offseason additions. The guard dropped 14 points in 14 minutes in the Georgia Tech exhibition and scored another 10 points the following week against West Virginia.
House is tied for the shortest player on the roster at 6-foot-3, but he showcases an innate ability to score using speed inside the arc. While he can struggle from deep, his elite passing and stifling perimeter defense allow him to slot into either guard role without skipping a beat.
The Terps have plenty of pieces to choose from in the backcourt, but some of House’s fellow guards think he is the player best primed for a breakout on the roster.
“I’ve never seen a defender like him before,” senior guard Lukas Sotell said. “He’s so active. He’s such a hard worker. He’s a really good listener.”
Aside from Andre Mills’ late surge last season, Maryland lacked a guard with a high motor and inside scoring prowess. The Terps also lacked a true distributor at the point guard position. The addition of House has the opportunity to fix both of these issues.
“Perfect fit for Buzz Williams, as far as his talent, his personality, his IQs are very high,” assistant coach Steve Roccaforte said. “He’s smart. He’s just a perfect fit. Multi-positional guard with size, very mature.”
Frontcourt building blocks
While Pharell Payne and Tomislav Buljan are virtually solidified as the premier big men on the roster, Adama Tambedou and Austin Brown have shown flashes that could earn them occasional minutes.
Tambedou, a four-star forward from Senegal, possesses a stocky 6-foot-7, 220-pound frame and is capable of playing some serious bully ball under the basket. His offensive rebounding and finishing ability could see him take on a similar role from the bench that Solomon Washington played early last season.
Brown earned a start during the Georgia Tech exhibition alongside four of Maryland’s expected starters. The lone three-star in the Terps’ recruiting class scored five points in 14 minutes while playing solid defense on the wing. He is unlikely to get minutes beyond nonconference play and will be a last-resort small forward backup for Oladotun or a third guard in the lineup.