Senior Day is guard’s 130th game for Terps
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When Sean Mosley selected Maryland over Syracuse, he was the gem of his recruiting class, the best player that season out of talent-rich Baltimore. Two gifted but troubled players were set to arrive with him — Gus Gilchrist and Tyree Evans. But neither played a game for the Terrapins.
Trouble? Mosley was anything but. On Sunday when the guard steps on the court for his final regular-season game at Comcast Center, it will be the 130th of his career.
When Mark Turgeon replaced the retired Gary Williams, he quickly discovered Mosley to be the player with whom he had the most in common.
“Sean’s so much older than a lot of these guys,” Turgeon said. “There’s numerous times in practice when we’re being immature, I would look at Sean, smile and laugh. We gotta get through it. I’ve really tried hard to lead the right way, and he’s really tried hard to lead the right way.”
As Maryland (16-13, 6-9) faces a Senior Day challenge from No. 24 Virginia (21-8, 8-7), it again will look to Mosley. The Terps also will honor forward Berend Weijs and walk-on guard John Dillard.
As the lone survivor of the recruiting class of 2008, much was expected of Mosley. He came out of St. Francis Academy fully formed physically and beyond his years emotionally. While his contemporaries matured, he remained the same player. But Mosley found his niche as a leader, defensive stopper and practitioner of dirty work.
“I heard when he signed here it was a great get. He’d only be here a few years type deal, probably an NBA player,” Turgeon said. “There’s delusional kids out there, and then there’s smart ones like Sean. I think he realized once he was here that he was a really good college player.”
Mosley’s best year came as a sophomore. Running in the backcourt with Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes, Mosley averaged 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds and hit 50.9 percent of his shots. This season, playing on a troublesome ankle, Mosley is averaging 10.1 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 39.4 percent.
“Really good kid,” Turgeon said. “Really wish he was a junior. He could really help us turn this thing around.”
