They?ve known each other since they were 14 year olds with dreams of playing college basketball, so it?s fitting University of Maryland teammates ? and roommates? Dino Gregory and Braxton Dupree are always talking about making it come true.
“We have a lot of nights where we talk about how we can?t wait for the season to start,” Dupree said. “Now this is our chance to be a part of it. It?s like a dream come true to finally be a part of it.”
They?re the only Baltimore natives on the Terrapins? roster. The 6-foot-7 Gregory was an All-Examiner forward from Mount St. Joseph, where he played for coach Pat Clatchey. Dupree, 6-foot-8 and 260 pounds, was an All-Examiner center for Mark Amatucci at Calvert Hall ? one of Mount St. Joseph?s biggest rivals.
“They come having been coached very well,” Maryland coach Gary Williams said. “I feel fortunate to get two guys from those schools that have the fundamentals in the game at an early point in their college career. They both have an chance to be outstanding players here at the university.”
But right now, they?re adapting to a campus Gregory calls “too big,” and to practicing on a team in which several players are vying for one open starting position.
“Everybody is going to get a chance to play,” Dupree said. “Whoever brings it harder in practice, is going to get on the floor.”
Dupree, who increased his bench press from 245 pounds to 310 pounds since August, is expected to serve as a backup to seniors Bambale Osby and James Gist inside.
Meanwhile, Gregory has his sights set on the opening at small forward. But even as a freshman, he knows playing time won?t be predicated by his scoring ability.
“What we need right now is defense,” Gregory said. “There are so many guys that can score in the ACC and we have so many guys that can score on our team. We don?t need another scorer out there. We need somebody that can lock-down somebody.”
