Maryland basketball had one extra scholarship to work with ahead of the 2024-25 season, and on Monday afternoon, head coach Kevin Willard filled his 13th and final scholarship as former Memphis guard Jayhlon Young announced his commitment. The addition was first reported by Tobias Bass of The Athletic.
Young, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard, will join the program with one season of eligibility left.
After redshirting the 2019-20 season at Grambling State, Young took the juco route to Baton Rouge CC for two seasons before transferring to UCF in 2022-23 where he played in all but one game and started in 12. Kevin Norris, who joined the program as an assistant this offseason, coached Young while with the Knights’ program.
Young then hit the portal again to Memphis for the 2023-24 season where he played in all but five of the Tigers’ 32 games, averaging 2.2 points and 0.9 assists in 11 minutes per game. The Dallas, Texas native also scored over 1,000 career points at Garland High School and went on to become a two-time all-district honoree.
Young was previously set to transfer to Vermont before backing away from his plans last week.
“I would like to thank the staff at Vermont as well as the supportive fan base,” Young said on X. “This was not an easy decision for me, but it’s what is best for my family and myself at this time. Thank you again for all of your support.”
While Michigan and Ohio State were among the schools linked to the veteran point guard, Young will now head to Maryland to round out the backcourt. Former Belmont guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie moved into College Park earlier this month where he’s set to fill the shoes left vacant by Jahmir Young, while the program also signed portal guard Selton Miguel and Rodney Rice to slide in at the two. With Jahari Long expected to be sidelined for the bulk of the 2024-25 season due to an injury suffered in the final minute of the lone win in the Big Ten Tournament, Young steps into a chance to back up Gillespie.
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