A pair of highly rated prospects who previously had given the Maryland men's basketball team a verbal commitment for 2017 signed their national letters of intent Thursday.
Darryl Morsell, a 6-foot-5 guard from Baltimore (Mount St. Joseph), and Bruno Fernando, a 6-10 forward from Angola who plays at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., will join the Terps next season.
"We are excited to welcome both Bruno and Darryl and their families to the University of Maryland," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said in a statement released by the athletic department. "They are both very skilled, athletic players with high character. Bruno and Darryl are great student-athletes who will be outstanding additions to our program. We identified Bruno and Darryl as student-athletes who will make great contributions to both our basketball program and our University community."
Morsell is rated No. 60 overall by Scout.com. The first player to from Baltimore to sign with the Terps after being recruited by Turgeon, Morsell averged 10.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists as a junior, when he was a first-team all-Metro and all-Baltimore Catholic League selection of The Baltimore Sun.
"Maryland is a special place," Morsell said in a statement. "Coach Turgeon and the team made me feel very welcome and a part of the family right away. I grew up watching Maryland and rooting for them and to now be a part of this Maryland basketball program with such great tradition is exciting."
Said Turgeon, "It's always great to keep the best local talent home. Darryl was a priority for us because we don't have anyone like him on our team. He's tough, athletic and versatile and plays with a very high basketball IQ. He is a tremendous kid who is a honor roll student and comes from a great family."
Ranked No. 57 overall by Scout.com, Fernando played for Angola's U-18 national team, leading the team to the AfroBasket championship with an 18.2 point average. He also played with his country's senior team that tried to qualify for the Rio Olympics last summer.
"I've been looking for a place like Maryland with such a great program, academics, people and a great environment where I can go and fit in right away," Fernando said in a statement. "I chose Maryland because I wanted to be at home, meaning I want to be around people that care and are willing to help me grow on and off the court. Maryland is the right place for me. I'm very proud and excited to be a part of that family."
Said Turgeon, "Bruno is a tough, physical player who has a really high motor. He's skilled and possesses good touch and shooting range to the 3-point line. He brings a great defensive presence in the paint. Bruno is a charismatic, high character guy that we are very happy to add to our program."
Maryland's 2017 signing class is ranked No. 14 by Scout.com.
"Any time a program signs two top-60 prospects, it's a big deal," Evan Daniels, director of basketball recruiting at Scout.com said in the release. "Mark Turgeon and his staff worked hard to address very specific needs for their future roster. Both players can help Maryland sustain the high level of success it has become accustomed to."