Maryland's 2017 Signing Class Ranked No. 14 With Fernando, Morsell
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Head coach Mark Turgeon and the University of Maryland men's basketball program welcomed forward Bruno Fernando and guard Darryl Morsell to the Terps for the class of 2017 Thursday.
"We are excited to welcome both Bruno and Darryl and their families to the University of Maryland," Turgeon said. "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."
A native of Angola, Fernando played for Montverde Academy (Fla.) the past two years and is ranked the 57th-best player in the country by Scout.com. He is spending a post-graduate year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
"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. "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."
The 6-foot-10 forward starred for various Angolan national teams, most recently averaging 18.2 ppg in leading the U-18 national team to an Afrobasket title. Fernando appeared with the senior national team in the Rio Olympics qualifying tournament. At the 2014 U-17 FIBA World Championships, Fernando averaged nine points and 10 rebounds per game.
A four-star recruit, Morsell is rated the 60th-best recruit in the country according to Scout.com. The athletic 6-foot-5 combo guard averaged 10.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 and helped Mount Saint Joseph to a 33-6 record. Morsell becomes the first player from Baltimore to be signed by Turgeon since becoming head coach in 2011.
"Maryland is a special place," Morsell said. "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."
Morsell's breakout junior season ended with him earning Baltimore Sun First-Team All-Metro and All-Baltimore Catholic League honors. He starred over the summer for his AAU squad, Team Melo.
