Chris Jeffrey, Maryland basketball's lone 2025 signee, backs off his pledge

One month ago, Maryland was looking to add a second to incoming high school class with a chance for Chance Mallory to pair with Chris Jeffrey. Fast forward to today, Maryland basketball now finds itself without a high school commit and an overturned roster as Jeffrey backed away from his signing following the coaching change.

Jeffrey has requested a release from his letter of intent and will reopen his recruitment with the four-star expected to ultimately sign elsewhere. Jeffrey, a four-star signee out of Mt. Zion (Md), committed to Maryland over Oklahoma State and Mississippi State back in October.

“I chose Maryland because it felt like home the moment I stepped on campus. Plus, coach [Kevin] Willard does a great job with point guards, so I believe I can be the next great point guard he develops,” Jeffrey said at the time.

Assistant Greg Manning Jr. spearheaded efforts while Kevin Norris, who joined the program last summer to replace Mike Jones, chipped in on his newest Baltimore target as former head coach Kevin Willard turned up the heat late. Now, Jeffrey will eye a potential reunion with Willard in the Big East.

“It felt really good being around them because they’re always at my games, so sitting down and getting to talk to them face-to-face was really good,” Jeffrey told IBG after his official. “It was great getting up there, getting to know the coaching staff a little bit more, seeing things that they do and how they differ from other colleges because they take their bodies way more serious to get to the next level. A lot of coaches prepare for right now but I could tell that Maryland, they’re preparing to get guys to the next level.”

Jeffrey is rated a composite three-star prospect and is ranked the nation's 134th-best prospect, according to On3.

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