Maryland Terrapins: Justin Jackson returning to Terps is good for the future

Good news for the Maryland Terrapins, Justin Jackson will be returning to the basketball program. The move comes at a good time when head coach Mark Turgeon and the program possibly could have lost two pieces from the roster last year in Jackson and Melo Trimble to the 2017 NBA Draft.

According to Inside Maryland Sports writer Jeff Ermann,  Jackson made the decision to go back to school because of where he would fall in the draft; staying in the draft would make him a second round pick, coming back to the Maryland Terrapins allows him to become a potential first rounder and gain a guaranteed contract at minimum of three years and $3 million.

Last season, Justin Jackson averaged 10.5 points per game and six rebounds per game and Justin Jackson value for Maryland is big. He can shoot the three ball, drive to the basket and rebound the ball. Where his a lot of strength lies is in how he plays with Kevin Huerter and Anthony Cowan, two other sophomores. These three players are the future of Maryland basketball.

Like Jackson, Huerter was a nice complement of size and three-point shooting ability for the Terrapins and to have two guys with size (both at six-foot-seven) who can create their own shot and have length on the defensive side of the ball is what the Terps need.

Anthony Cowan is the clear heir apparent to Melo Trimble and he will have big shoes to fill if he wants to take the program to a Final Four and maybe even a national championship.

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Justin Jackson returning means Maryland’s big three of young talent will not be broken up. As far as where the program could go with Justin Jackson, Kevin Huerter and Anthony Cowan leading the charge, Maryland fans will have to wait and see.