Big Ten Roundup (July 21): 4-Star Commits to Maryland, Harper Jr. Agrees to Two-Way Deal

2024 four-star defensive back Brandon Jacob committed to Mike Locksley and the Maryland Terrapins, while Ron Harper Jr., a former Rutgers basketball player under head coach Steve Pikiell, agreed to a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors for the 2023-24 NBA season.

Mike Locksley and the Maryland Terrapins earned a commitment from four-star safety Brandon Jacob, now their highest-ranked recruit in the class of 2024.

In basketball news, former Rutgers basketball player Ron Harper Jr. was not selected in the 2022 NBA Draft, but managed to earn a two-way contract from the Toronto Raptors. Now a year later, he's back in Toronto on the same deal after his first year as a pro. 

Here's everything you need to know in today's Big Ten Roundup:

Maryland Lands Four-Star Safety

Two weeks after landing their first four-star of the 2024 class in running back DeJuan Williams, Mike Locksley and the Terrapins have done it again. Four-star safety Brandon Jacob committed to Maryland on Thursday night, and is now the Terps' highest-ranked commit in the class of 2024.  

Prior to Jacob's commitment, Maryland's 2024 recruiting class ranked 50th overall in the nation and 13th overall in the Big Ten, ahead of only Indiana, UCLA (the Bruins will have joined the Big Ten by 2024) and Northwestern, according to 247 Sports.

With the Orlando, Fla., native now in tow, Maryland's overall class ranking should shoot up the boards. Jacob is rated as the 13th best safety in the entire class of 2024, and the 164th best player overall. Maryland edged out several prominent recruiting powers in Ohio State, Texas A&M and Miami to land Jacob, according to 247 Sports. 

Coming off an 8-5 season that was the school's best since 2008, Maryland and Mike Locksley are looking to keep things rolling in College Park. 

Ron Harper Jr. Agrees to Two-Way Deal

After four seasons in Piscataway playing for Steve Pikiell, Harper Jr. has agreed to a second year in the city north of the border. 

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Friday that the Rutgers product has a agreed to a two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors for the second summer in a row. 

Forward Ron Harper Jr., has agreed on a new two-way contract to the return to the Toronto Raptors, Drew Gross of @rocnationsports tells ESPN. Harper Jr., averaged 17 points and five rebounds in his rookie season with the Raptors’ G League affiliate.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 20, 2023

A two-way contract allows an athlete to play for both the franchise's NBA team and its G-League affiliate during the same season. Each NBA team is permitted three two-way players on its roster, as Harper Jr. joins Kansas State point guard Markquis Nowell as the second player the Raptors have locked in as a two-way this offseason. 

Harper Jr. only suited up in nine games total for the Raptors during the 2022-23 season, and in those nine games he only racked up a total of 20 points. 

However, the 6-foot-5, 245 pound forward out of Rutgers did manage to have a productive G-League campaign, averaging 17.3 points on a scorching 65.0 True Shooting percentage in 29 games played.

The Toronto Raptors could still be making major changes to their roster moving forward, having already lost Fred VanVleet in free agency, and with the ever present rumors that Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby could be on the trade block. Should the Raptors move on from one of Siakam or Anunoby, look for Harper Jr. to slot in with increased playing time amidst the fluctuating roster. 

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