Former Terps star Steve Blake threw his name into the mix to be Maryland’s new men’s basketball coach following Kevin Willard’s exit to Villanova. While the job ultimately went to Buzz Williams, Blake still has good reason to pay closer-than-usual attention to the Terps in 2025-26.
Nick Blake, Steve’s son, committed to play for Williams and Maryland next season. Nick Blake announced the news on social media Tuesday.
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The high school prospect plays at Olympia in Orlando, Florida, where he was primarily a 3-point specialist. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 10.8 points per game in 2024-25, according to MaxPreps. He shot 38% from 3-point range, with 76% of his shots coming from beyond the 3-point line. He was an unrated prospect on 247Sports, but clearly Williams likes the guard’s game enough to add him to the roster.
Nick Blake joins a Maryland team with several other freshman additions, including five-star shooting guard Darius Adams and international prospect Guillermo Del Pino. The Terps were also active in the transfer portal, bringing in several guards, including a pair of former Kansas Jayhawks. It’s possible Nick Blake redshirts in 2025-26, given the Terps experienced depth at shooting guard and with the addition of Adams.
When at Maryland from 1999 to 2003, Steve Blake grew into one of the program’s most accomplished starting point guards. Steve Blake was a superb passer, finishing his career with 972 assists, the most in program history. He was also a member of the 2002 team that won the Terps’ only men’s basketball national championship.
Despite a couple of NBA coaching stops as an assistant, Steve Blake has never coached at a college program. He floated his name as a possibility for the Terps’ opening on social media this offseason, but was never a top candidate for the job that went to Williams.
Terps land four-star forward
While Nick Blake’s connection to the program generated plenty of excitement on social media, the Terps also added a pair of other incoming freshmen in recent days with proven high school success.
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Maryland added small forward Jaziah Harper, who plays at the Bosco Institute in Illinois. He reportedly also held an offer from Indiana. The unrated prospect on 247Sports stands at 6-7 and is another candidate to redshirt this upcoming season, given the team’s transfer additions along the wing.
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Of the recent freshman additions, 6-9 power forward Aleks Alston looks the most likely to earn early minutes in his college career. The four-star prospect held several offers before landing on Williams and the Terps, including from Michigan State and Illinois.
The left-handed shooter plays at Kenwood Academy in Chicago, and he averaged 17 points per game as a senior. While he played center in high school and stands at a height typical for a power forward, he plays more like a small forward or shooting guard with deep shooting range and a good handle. He’s capable of playing multiple positions given his length, and his ability to shoot jumpers makes him a potential mismatch when matched against power forwards. 247Sports views him as a top-125 player in the country, and he should compete for immediate playing time.
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With the recent newcomers, Maryland’s roster now has 15 players. The proposed House settlement calls for a roster cap of 15 for men’s basketball teams, suggesting the Terps’ 2025-26 roster is now set. Here’s who the Terps expect to have on their team for Williams’ first season:
Guards: Darius Adams, Guillermo Del Pino, Nick Blake, Myles Rice (Indiana), Isaiah Watts (Washington State), David Coit (Kansas), Andre Mills (Texas A&M), Rakease Passmore (Kansas)
Wings: Jaziah Harper, George Turkson (Texas A&M), Solomon Washington (Texas A&M)
Forwards/centers: Aleks Alston, Elijah Saunders (Virginia), Pharrel Payne (Texas A&M), Collin Metcalf (Northeastern)
Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin.
