Maryland coach Mark Turgeon added an experienced player to his frontcourt for next season’s roster.
Former Duke forward Sean Obi committed Thursday to Maryland as a graduate transfer. As a grad transfer, Obi will be eligible to play for the Terrapins immediately. Obi visited Georgetown and College Park earlier this week before choosing the Terrapins.
“We are excited to welcome Sean to Maryland,” Turgeon said in a statement. “As a graduate transfer, he brings high character, experience and maturity to our team. Sean is a good rebounder and gives us another physical presence inside. He is also a very good student. Sean is healthy and ready to contribute.
Obi is a 6-foot-9, 255 pound native of Kiduna, Nigeria. He is set to graduate from Duke with a degree in sociology and minor in marketing and will enroll in graduate school at Maryland in June.
Obi started at Rice before transferring to Duke in 2014. With the Owls, he averaged 11.4 points and 9.3 rebounds in 26.4 minutes per game and was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. His rebounding average led Conference USA and was second among all freshmen in the nation. He had 11 double-doubles and had freshman records for rebounds and field goal percentage.
Obi sat out the 2014-15 season due to NCAA transfer rules but was a member of Duke’s national championship team that season. Limited by shoulder and knee injuries, Obi played in just 10 games, averaging 0.5 points and 1.0 rebounds with the Blue Devils in 2015-16. He sat out last season with the Blue Devils after undergoing offseason knee surgery.
“I am very appreciative to have the opportunity to attend the University of Maryland,” Obi said. “I want to thank Coach Turgeon and the staff. I immediately created a unique bond with the coaches during my visit. Maryland is a place where I am confident I can make a major impact.”
Obi is the second transfer in recent years to move from Duke to Maryland. He was a former Blue Devil teammate with former Terrapins guard Rasheed Sulaimon.
• Kevin Leitzell can be reached at kleitzell@washingtontimes.com.
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