The University of Maryland men's basketball program formally completed the recruiting of its class of 2003 yesterday by signing five players to letters of intent.

Led by 6-foot-5 Michael Jones from Thayer Academy in Dorchester, Mass., who is regarded as one of the top two shooting guards in the nation, the Terps signed players each of whom has been ranked consistently among the top 100 high school performers in the country or among the top 20 at his position.

The rest of the class includes 6-9 forward Ekene Ibekwe, who averaged 19.7 points and 10 rebounds as a junior at Carson (Calif.) High School; 6-11 center Will Bowers, a Sun All-Metro second-team pick who averaged 15.5 points, nine rebounds and three blocks as a junior at Archbishop Spalding, and 6-10 center Hassan Fofana, a native of Conkary, Guinea, who averaged 15 points and 15 rebounds at Holy Name High in Worcester, Mass., and is now playing at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va.

Rounding out the group is D.J. Strawberry, a guard/forward who averaged 11.5 points as a junior at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., and is the son of former major-league baseball player Darryl Strawberry.

"Hopefully, these players will be able to contribute early in their careers," said Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams, who will field an extremely young team in the fall of 2003. The Terps will feature 10 first- or second-year players and only one senior in forward Jamar Smith.

Jones is considered the top blue-chipper among the quintet. He averaged 20 points last year for Thayer Academy and was ranked throughout the summer and fall recruiting periods as one of the country's top 15 players.