Maryland head coach Kevin Willard and his staff are still working to fill the last three remaining vacant scholarships for the 2022-23 season, but the staff will host another recently offered 2023 prospect for an official visit next month.
South Kent School (CT) four-star center Papa Kante will officially visit Michigan beginning June 14 then head to Maryland beginning June 20, per Joe Tipton from On3.
Maryland is among the schools recruiting Kante the hardest to-date alongside Rutgers, Michigan and Seton Hall after Willard extended an offer to the 6-foot-10, 225-pound big man back on April 11. Assistant coach Grant Billmeier has continued his pursuit since he began recruiting Kante while still at Seton Hall. “Maryland is a great program. Coach [Kevin] Willard and coach Grant [Billmeier] are great coaches and they have been recruiting me when they were at Seton Hall and talking to me a lot too,” Kante told USA Today last week. Kante is coming off a visit to Rutgers last week while he has also previously visited both UConn and Providence.
Kante added that he has no timetable for a commitment with him still in the early stages of his recruitment. “I don’t know yet, only Allah knows the right time and I’m going to keep praying,” Kante said. “And whenever me and my family feel it is the best time and the best fit, I’ll make a decision!”
Both Donta Scott and Julian Reese have eligibility beyond the 2022-23 season but with limited proven depth behind them and a veteran group in the starting rotation, Willard will be tasked with replenishing the frontcourt depth and Kante fills that need.
Kante is rated a four-star prospect and a 92 overall by On3, sitting as the nation’s eighth-best center and 85th-best prospect overall.