Nov. 13, 2000

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland head basketball coach Gary Williams announced today the signing of power forward Ryan Randle of Allegany Junior College in Cumberland, Md. Randle, who will attend Maryland beginning next fall, prepped at Duncanville High School in Texas before attending Allegany.

"Ryan will be a good player for us," said Williams. "We have followed him at Allegany and since we'll lose Terence [Morris] after this season, we needed a good big man who is also athletic."

Randle, 6-9 and 250 pounds, is in his sophomore season at Allegany, the same school from which the Terrapins successfully recruited All-American Steve Francis. He will attend Maryland for his final two seasons.

At Allegany, helped lead his team to a 28-2 record as a freshman. He averaged 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and led the team with 31 blocked shots. Coming off the bench, he also added 43 assists and 27 steals to display the ball-handling skills that set him apart from an ordinary big man.

Said his coach at Allegany, Bob Kirk, "Even though he didn't start for us last year, he was the best player on the team. We've never had anyone who is as capable a player except for Steve Francis."