Maryland basketball faced a significant setback early this season when reserve forward Jordan Geronimo was sidelined by a hamstring injury, keeping him out for the past four games. The team then took another hit over the weekend as backup center Braden Pierce suffered what is likely a season-ending eye injury.

Player Profiles and Roles

Braden Pierce, a 7-foot, 245-pound redshirt freshman, played in five of Maryland's eight games, averaging 2.4 points on 55.1 percent shooting. He wasn't expected to play a major role this season but added depth behind star big men Julian Reese and Derik Queen. A source close to the situation revealed that he was poked in the eye by a teammate during practice. After missing the game against Alcorn State, his eye didn't heal as expected, and a return trip to the doctor revealed a retina injury requiring surgery. Pierce could potentially return to the court and start practicing around February, but it's unlikely he'll play in any more games this season. This could lead to a medical redshirt year for the Woodstock, Ga., native, who redshirted last year as a freshman after spending a post-grad year at IMG Academy (Fla.). As a converted baseball player, Pierce got serious about basketball late in high school and is now working on other aspects of his game to complement his soft three-point stroke.Jordan Geronimo, the reserve forward, was sidelined by a hamstring injury. Coach Kevin Willard has mentioned going small at times with Geronimo at center, but there's no update on his return yet. With Geronimo and Pierce out, Maryland's frontcourt reserves became thin. However, 6-9 Georgia Tech transfer Tafara Gapara has been a recent revelation, averaging 14 points, seven rebounds, and 3.5 blocks in 22 minutes per game during the past two games.

Recruiting and Player Commitments

Braden Pierce committed to Maryland in January 2023 and was ranked as a three-star center, the No. 47 in his class. He was also recruited by Missouri, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Virginia. The team's coaching staff is constantly working on recruiting and player-retention efforts, and fans can support these efforts by joining TurtleNIL.

Fan Engagement and Resources

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