2027 5-star Obinna Ekezie Jr. checks out Maryland on Sunday and it matters

On Sunday, 2027 five-star Obinna Ekezie Jr. officially got his first true, up-close look at Maryland as a serious recruiting option, making an unofficial visit built around the Terps’ home game against Purdue.

The backdrop wasn’t pretty on the scoreboard, but the visit still did what it needed to do: move Maryland from “legacy school people talk about” to a program Ekezie can visualize himself playing for with relationships, a plan, and momentum behind it.

What the visit looked like

While the full itinerary hasn’t been publicly detailed, we do know the core setting: Ekezie attended the game in College Park and was there with his father, Obinna Ekezie, a former Terp, a key part of why this trip has extra weight.

And the timing was intentional: Maryland has been making him a priority, re-engaging him in early June and staying on him through the fall into this visit window.

Why Maryland is positioned differently than most schools

A lot of blue-blood pursuits are built on brand. Maryland’s pitch to Ekezie is more personal and more specific.

1) It’s a legacy recruitment with real traction

This isn’t just “dad played there” nostalgia. Having his father present on the visit adds credibility and comfort, and it gives the staff a natural bridge to talk family, development, and fit. 

2) The staff relationship is already established

Ekezie has pointed to a strong connection with Aki Collins and consistent contact with the staff as a whole. That matters in a recruitment where nearly everyone is “offering,” but not everyone is investing daily.

3) Maryland is selling him a long-term role, not a short-term rescue

Even with the program’s on-court struggles this season, the staff is clearly recruiting as if the ceiling is higher and Ekezie fits the clearest need: a cornerstone frontcourt piece you can build around. 

How this visit impacts his recruitment

Maryland becomes “real” again not just a familiar name

Before Sunday, Maryland’s involvement had plenty of storylines (legacy, re-offer, communication), but visits are where recruits start ranking schools in tiers. This was his first visit since Buzz Williams took over, and that alone gives the Terps a fresh evaluation point in his mind.

It connects Maryland’s recent recruiting momentum to the next class

Maryland’s recent five-star momentum (headlined by Baba Oladotun) gives the staff proof-of-concept: they can win heavyweight battles and stack talent. Ekezie seeing that trajectory in person is meaningful, especially if the pitch is, “you’re the next pillar.”

Written by Alex Karamanos | February 2, 2026