As an elite recruit, when you have an opportunity to play for Tom Izzo and slide into a role that opened up thanks to a freshman who just developed into a lottery pick under him, you jump on it.
Darius Adams did not.
According to reports, Adams committed to Buzz Williams and Maryland on Tuesday evening over Izzo and Michigan State which is one of the wildest moves I think you can make as a top recruit.
BREAKING: Top-20 recruit Darius Adams, a former UConn signee, has committed to Maryland, he tells @On3Recruits.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 29, 2025
The 6-5 Shooting Guard is a McDonalds All-American. Also considered Georgetown, Michigan State, and Tennessee.
Strong pickup for Buzz Williams.… pic.twitter.com/b8OFP0QMub
Adams, a five-star recruit in the 2025 class, decided to play for a coach who was just hired by Maryland and who had as many missed NCAA Tournaments and NIT appearances at Texas A&M as he did NCAA Tournament appearances (he wouldn't have made it during the canceled COVID year anyway). At Virginia Tech prior to Texas A&M, he made it past the Round of 64 one time.
This is not supposed to be a knock on Williams as a coach because I do think he's solid and was a good hire by Maryland, but he's nowhere near the level that Izzo is.
Choosing to play for Williams over Izzo is an interesting move that I can't wait to look back on.
Izzo just had Jase Richardson come through the program, earn his minutes, and turn into a lottery pick while Williams' last NBA Draft pick was Nickeil Alexander-Walker at Virginia Tech back in 2019. Izzo has had three (soon to be four) since then.
It'll be interesting to see what the Spartans do with this final need on the roster which happens to be in the backcourt and I'm assuming they'll hit the portal for a combo guard, of sorts.
This loss is a punch in the gut seeing as MSU was the runner-up when he committed to UConn.