Ivan Bender arrived at Maryland on Saturday. The a 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward's arrival on the court for the Terps will not be for a while – likely not until next season.
Bender, a native of Bosnia who played on a Junior Euroleague team in Croatia as well as for that country's U-19 team in the 2013 FIBA World Championships, is coming off ACL surgery and still needs to get cleared to practice by Maryland team doctors.
Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said Bender was scheduled to meet with doctors on Monday. He will begin classes a week from Monday, when the spring semester starts in College Park.
"He's still not 100 percent healthy. We'll bring him along slowly," Turgeon said on Monday's Big Ten coaches teleconference.
Given Maryland's depth at power forward, it seems likely that Bender won't play until next season unless there are injuries to others. Bender would have a full four years of elibility if he sits out until next season.