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Terrapins Alex Len Taken Fifth Overall In NBA Draft

Keith Cavanaugh, writer for the Terrapin Times joined The Vinny and Rob Show Friday morning on 150-7 THE FAN to discuss former Terrapin Alex Len being drafted number five overall and the state of the new recruiting class for the Terps.

Keith Cavanaugh

It was rumored for numerous weeks prior to last night's NBA draft that Alex Len had a chance of going number one overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers. When the first pick came in NBA Commissioner David Stern announced Anthony Bennett's name not Len's. Len however would not have to wait long to hear his name called. Just four picks later Len was taken fifth overall by the Pheonix Suns.

Not only was this a special night for the seven footer from Ukraine it was also special for the University of Maryland and its basketball program. The program has not had a top ten draft pick in over ten years when Chris Wilcox went eighth overall to the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2002 NBA draft. Cavanaugh believes it shows the progress the program is making "Just shows you how the program has lacked an impact, bona fide, NBA blue chipper. So, it's great to get back on the board for Maryland."

Cavanaugh believes that Len has tremendous upside in the NBA but it could take a couple seasons until the statistics are there. Len has great hands, feet, height, can face up, and knock down shots from 15-18 feet. His euro face up style draws comparisons to Pau Gasol. If Len can have half the success that Gasol has had he will have a very good NBA career.

All Terrapin sports will join the BIG 10 in 2014 and Mark Turgeon seems to have the basketball team ready. His fall class for 2014 is rated top five overall and has the possibility to be top three once they have everyone signed. Randy Edsall, the Terps football coach is now doing his best to get his program suited and ready for a massive step up in to the BIG 10. Edsall has the Maryland's first commit from Texas in nearly fifteen years. They also have a three star tight end coming from the mid west area in Ohio, Andrew Gray. The University of Maryland officially joins the BIG 10 for the 2014/2015 season.

(Programming Note: Intern Zach wrote and posted this article as part of his internship program with CBS Baltimore. Zach is a Communications & History major at Loyola University Maryland.)

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