Ashton Pankey Class: RS Sophomore Hometown: Bronx, N.Y. High School: St. Anthony HS Height / Weight: 6-9 / 220 Position: Forward Experience: RS

AS A FRESHMAN (2010-11) - Long big man with strength to be effective reserve on the front line... Recovering from serious leg injury that kept him out of action as a senior... Had 5 points, 5 rebounds in only 10 minutes in exhibition win over Florida Southern (11/1)... Had season-ending surgery on left leg during holiday break... Received medical redshirt waiver to get year of eligibility back after playing just 3 minutes vs. Seattle Univ. (11/8).

BEFORE MARYLAND - Graded at 91 by ESPN.com... 3-star prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com... Rated as No. 36 power forward in nation by Scout.com... Solid shot-blocker and rebounder... Averaged 10 points, three blocks per game as a junior... Missed his senior season with a stress fracture in his left leg... ESPN.com says Pankey "is very active on the blocks. He's an impressive athlete who finishes well, has long arms, good hands and a strong frame"... High school coach was Bob Hurley... Transferred to St. Anthony from Archbishop Molloy after 2008 season.

PERSONAL - Parents are Persuasion Branch and Leonard Pankey... Father played football at Lehigh... Born in the Bronx... Chose Maryland over Miami, St. John's and Oregon State among others... Major is yet undeclared... Says Steve Francis is his favorite Terp... Lists LeBron James as his sports hero and his mother as his non-sports hero... Listens to Lil Wayne, Drake, Kanye West and Jay-Z... Would cast Will Smith in a movie about his life... Favorite movie is "Coach Carter"... Lists his best basketball moment as his first dunk, which came in the seventh grade... Recipient of the Fastbreakers Basketball Scholarship and the Alvin L. Aubinoe, Jr. Memorial Scholarship.

PANKEY'S CAREER STATISTICS