Brenda Free knows what he does with the Transfer Portal.
Other coaches have complained about this new era of college sports where players’ movements are far more fluid, but the 54-year-old has adapted brilliantly. In each of the past few years, long-standing leaders Maryland Terrapin After revamping and transforming her roster in the spring, she won the following season with a high-level player.
For example, take a look at the 2022-23 campaign. That offseason – after the run to Sweet 16, All-Big Ten talent like Angel Reese and Ashley Offs went out the door, just like important contributor Mimi Collins did. Freze brought in Ivy League standouts Abby Myers and SEC talents, pairing Brinae Alexander and Lavender Briggs with Diamond Miller, Champ Sellers and Faith Mesonius, attacking the Elite Eight.
And then there’s this year. Freeze bolstered her roster with seven transfers, winning 13 games in the Big Ten, then went to Sweet 16 again, taking Maryland in the tournament at least for her career.
This offseason didn’t make a difference for the Terps. Even Li on the top of the freeze, Karen Blair leaves to become head coach Georgia Institute of Technologyshe and her staff worked quickly to recruit new players to Maryland through the transfer portal.
And at least on paper, Free is bringing together teams who are likely to be able to do a deep run in March’s madness once again.
On Friday, Maryland announced it had signed sophomore transfer Orchi Okananwa. Okananwa was a major reason that Duke was able to advance to the Elite 8 for the first time this season since 2013. Greensboro, North Carolina.
“Fans should be really excited about Orchi,” Free said in a statement. “Her IQ and athletic ability are high. She is a dynamic player who brings boundary qualities that every team wants to have. She thrives in our up-tempo style.
Certainly, Okananwa tallied five points, three steels, two blocks, two assists and two rebounds in the November Terps way. She never left for Duke in two seasons with the Blue Devils, but she averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steel in 71 games, shooting 1.5 steel in 22 minutes per game, shooting 47.5% from the floor and 32.4% from the 3-point land. She is often praised by coaches around the ACC for her relentless efforts, strong defense and playmaking tips.
Okananwa is the latest addition to Maryland’s already impressive transfer class.
Earlier this month, Indiana’s Yalden Garzon and Pennsylvania’s Gracie Markle joined the Terps, each bringing something different to their teams, improving their chances of winning the big next season.
Israel’s 6-foot-3 versatile wing, Gerson was a three-time All-Big 10 selection for the Hoosiers, averaging 12.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. This past season, she scored Indiana and scored a top 3.2 assists per game. Due to her shooting skills and ability to defend multiple positions, she was one of the most coveted players on the portal this spring.
Merkle is a 6-foot, 6-foot redshirt junior who spent time in Pennsylvania and Bellarmine. As a freshman at Bellarmine, she led the country with shooting rates at the 70.2% mark from the floor. During this past season of Nittany Lions, she averaged 15.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, shooting a big 10 best 67.1% off the floor. She was the 2023 Asun Rookie of the Year and this season was a selection of all 10 big 10.
Shyanne Sellers – Terps bus drivers from the past few seasons – WNBA After being drafted in the second round by the Golden State Valkyries, Okananwa, Garzon and Markle are paired with an impressive return crop for players for Maryland. The group includes Kaylene Smikle, Saylor Poffenbarger, Mir McLean, Bri McDaniel and Allie Kubek. Five of Maryland’s major goals scorers in this past season will return to black and red.
Freze and her Terps look like winners of the big transfer portal. These additions will help us return to the Final Four for the first time since 2015.
