Freshman finding his way as production increases
Bumps. Bruises. Groans.
They’re the most telling results of Sean Mosley’s practices — and they don’t appear on a stat sheet.
But they’re evident in his teammates.
“I know the [starters] don’t like to play against him,” Maryland coach Gary Williams said. “He’s physical. He plays everyday in practice like he did out there against Charlotte on Saturday. You notice that. Sean has maintained a certain level at practice everyday since October. You have to reward guys like that, and you want them to play well.”
The freshman had a season-high 11 points and five rebounds in an 85-75 win against Charlotte. He finally showed why he was one of the region’s most sought-after recruits last year at St. Frances Academy, where his 2,933 career points were the second-highest in state history.
“To me, that’s the guy that’s going to take over this program and make some things happen in the future,” said junior guard Greivis Vasquez, who averages a team-high 18 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. “I said before the season that I think he’s going to be a pro someday. He needs to understand that he needs to come here and work everyday. We need him to play every game like he did [against Charlotte].”
Mosley got off to a slow start this season because he sprained his left ankle during a pick-up game this past summer. It hindered his ability to get the elevation needed for his jump shot.
“I couldn’t get a lot of shots up, and it made me fall behind a little bit,” said Mosley, who was The Examiner’s Player of the Year last winter. “Now, I’ve got my rhythm and my teammates trust me on the perimeter. It feels good.”
The Terrapins (11-2) certainly can use Mosley’s scoring, as he and Cliff Tucker (5.4 ppg) are the only reserves who average more than three points per game. Maryland’s top three scorers — Vasquez, forward Landon Milbourne (12.5) and guard Eric Hayes (10.3) — are the only players who average at least 10 points per game.
“Sean’s very physical,” Milbourne said. “That’s the type of player he is. He never stops. Even if he misses a shot or something, he never stops. He’s very aggressive on defense, goes to the boards every single time. He’s an energy guy and a very physical guy. We need that on this team.”
