Dez Wells Always Finds A Challenge And Leads The Maryland Terrapins Past Them
By Danny Cox
Name: Dez Wells
University: Maryland
Year: Senior
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 215 lbs.
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Position: Guard-Forward
When the Maryland Terrapins defeated the then No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers 59-53 in late February, Dez Wells was to have "played out of his mind." If someone has a stat line that includes 26 points, seven rebounds, and four assists...that seems like a rather perfect assessment.
As people began clamoring over his gigantic game, Wells didn't want them to just focus on that performance against Wisconsin.
“Out of my mind? This is my first 20-point game, huh? This my first big game against a highly ranked team?” Wells recalled thinking to himself. “You guys must have forgot me playing against Duke my sophomore year or getting a double-double my first NCAA game as a freshman or all the other things that I have done throughout my career.”
Dez Wells has been through a lot in his career at the University of Maryland, and some tend to forget that it hasn't been an easy time there. He was dismissed from Xavier and able to transfer to Maryland and he looked forward to helping Mark Turgeon turn around the Terrapins' program.
He instantly became a dominant force on the floor and a leader for the team overall.
The terms behind Wells' dismissal from Xavier stemmed from being accused of sexual assault back in 2012. The charges were later deemed to be not fit for prosecution and the Hamilton County (Ohio) prosecutor even called Xavier's disciplinary process unfair.
His relationship with Xavier splintered and bruised. His life and playing career without a home. Dez Wells transferred to Maryland and was granted immediate eligibility. Yes, there have been a lot of struggles and many other people wouldn't even go through the trouble or put up with everything that he has gone through.
Dez Wells wasn't going to be beaten down. He wasn't going to let someone else decide what happened to his career. So with that, he did what he knows how to do - and that's play basketball.
He played so well in his first two seasons at Maryland that he thought about skipping his Senior season and going into the NBA Draft. Once it came time to declare, Wells decided to finish out his collegiate playing career and come back for his final season.
The entire Maryland Terrapins' fan base is thrilled with his decision.
As a Senior, Wells is second on the team in points per game with 15. He is pulling down 4.8 rebounds per game and dishing out 2.9 assists. He has the size and strength and leadership to take Maryland to a championship and an NBA team to a big ring.
Now? The Terrapins are 24-5 and will ride the turned-around Dez Wells into a likely top three seed and they control their own destiny.
Danny Cox knows a little something about the NFL, whether it means letting you know what penalty will come from the flag just thrown on the field or quickly spouting off who the Chicago Bears drafted in the first round of the 1987 draft (Jim Harbaugh). He plans on bringing you the best news, previews, recaps, and anything else that may come along with the exciting world of the National Football League. Danny is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.