Laurin Mincy is one of the most explosive guards in the country.
Laurin Mincy's family told her that if she knew where she wanted to go to college before the summer ended, she shouldn't lead the other coaches on during the July evaluation period.
And while an injury has turned Mincy's July status to questionable, her college pick is no longer in question, as she called Maryland coach Brenda Frese and gave a verbal commitment to the Terrapin program on Monday.
Mincy, a 5-foot-10 shooting guard from Newark, N.J., is Frese's third commitment for 2010, joining Pennsylvanians Natasha Cloud and Alyssa Thomas as future Terps.
"I wasn't sure if I wanted to leave Jersey," said Mincy, who chose Maryland over Georgia and Rutgers. "But it's far enough and close enough. I could really see myself there and just had a good feeling about it."
It might be just as well for those who would be recruiting her, as Mincy will know later this week if she will miss any playing time in July. She is scheduled for an MRI on her left knee Tuesday after injuring it in the Gym Rats tournament in New York a week ago. She said she has been walking on it and, at worst, her doctor thinks it could be a partially torn meniscus. She hopes to at least play at Nike Nationals with the Alabama Roadrunners at the end of July.
"I think I'll just need to strengthen it," Mincy said.
Mincy on healthy knees is a sight to behold, as she was a one-woman machine at times for Newark's University High School, which finished No. 46 in the ESPN RISE Fab 50. Mincy scored 39 points during a two-point loss to eventual national No. 2 South Bend (Ind.) Washington during December's T-Mobile Invitational and, two weeks later, dropped 34 in a win against Colts Neck (N.J.), another top New Jersey team.
Playmaking is the name of Mincy's game, whether it means scoring 30-plus or hitting crazy buzzer-beater shots. But while scoring is where she shines, Mincy gets up and down the court with the best of them, using her defense and speed to lead her strong transition game.
"I think (Maryland) will be a good fit," University coach Felecia Oliver said. "Laurin easily adapts to changes and she does her homework on styles of play. And it's a great atmosphere for her."
