Malachi Palmer on transition to Maryland, what he looks to bring, favorite part about Harrisburg

Mt. Zion Prep (MD) three-star guard Malachi Palmer became the first high school pledge in nearly a year to commit to head coach Kevin Willard, breaking a drought that would help the Terps generate momentum on the trail before closing in on five-star Derik Queen to round out the 2024 class. Palmer is one of several new faces in the Terps’ backcourt after Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Rodney Rice and Jayhlon Young join the program to round out the revamped rotation beginning this fall. Palmer gives Maryland another young piece to get settled in at the two behind DeShawn Harris-Smith and Rodney Rice, while Chance Stephens and the newest freshman guard look to carve out roles for themselves in the 2024-25 season. Palmer is the newest Terp to sit down for new player introductions to break down his decision to head to College Park out of high school, his early impression of the transition and his favorite part about Harrisburg. On why Maryland was the pick out of high school “I played AAU in Maryland for years now with Team Thrill, Team Melo, teams like that. And then going to school in Maryland, my school was probably 15 minutes from here so just coming to Maryland felt like home. The coaching staff was all very inviting. So I enjoyed my visit, enjoyed my relationship with the coaches.” On how Palmer describes his game “I'm a physical guard. I can score on three levels. I get downhill, get to my mid-range, pull up. I’m also going to make a play to get my teammates about do whatever it takes.” On the start of workouts with the team “Practices have been intense, physical, but I'm enjoying the process of getting to know my teammates, trying to soak in as much information I can from the older guys. Just getting better every day.” On what he hopes to bring to the 2024-25 team “I’m going to do all the little things, do whatever it takes to win. So whether that's me scoring, whether it's diving on the floor for a loose ball, taking a charge or being on the sidelines clapping for my teammates. Whatever it takes to win. Whatever coach Willard asks, that’s what I’m going to do.” On head coach Kevin Willard “He has years of experience under his belt. He's coached many high-level guys so I'm just looking to learn as much as I can from him. I know he knows that and he's a winner.” On the funniest guy in the locker room “It’s gotta be Derik or Tafara . Derik jokes all day, Derik plays all day long.” On his excitement to play in the Xfinity Center “I’m super excited, I can’t wait. Just coming, seeing the atmosphere, all the different students and Maryland fans come out, pack out the arena. Seeing the flag come down. I’m super excited.” On the use of Facebook in Harrisburg “Maybe just in central PA they haven't moved on from Facebook. I came down to Maryland, my first day of school and I was on Facebook and everyone in class was like, you still use Facebook? I'm still thinking like it's normal and everyone uses it, but nah, I guess it's just a Harrisburg thing.” On two things that people won’t know about Harrisburg that Palmer loves “It’s small but it’s a tight-knit group, so everyone knows everyone. That's about it, the food. So it was pretty good.” On whether Pennsylvanians also love their flag “No, not really. You’ll never see, like you look around everywhere you see a Maryland flag everywhere you go. Pennsylvania is not like that.” On his family’s influence and impact on his decision to play at Maryland “They definitely influenced me a lot. My mom and dad being in my life from when I was little, just taking me to the gym and instilling in me all good values and sacrifices.” On when he first fell in love with the game “I was four when I first started playing. Going to YMCA, just playing against some of the older guys. I always played up two and three-grade levels. I didn’t start realizing I was good until I played against people my age and then I realized I was a lot better than a lot of kids I played against.” On the Commanders’ playoff chances in 2024 “Commanders, they haven't been good since I don't even know how long. I'm not going to lie.  The Commanders, the Giants, the Cowboys – none of them are good.” On his favorite all-time Eagle “LeSean McCoy. And he's from Harrisburg actually…grew up looking up to him.” Related Links Intel: pieces coming together in Maryland's defensive recruiting in 2025 classPriority target sets commitment date with three schools in the mix2024 Maryland football position preview: running backsTwo big board movers (+)Intel: rumblings on an ACC pledge + local wide receiver