UMBC basketball head coach Ryan Odom explains the recruiting challenges and opportunities for mid-majors

The men’s basketball team from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County made history in the 2018 NCAA tournament. With a roster full of players unheralded heading into March Madness, UMBC head coach Ryan Odom orchestrated the first upset of a No. 1 seed by a No. 16 seed in tournament history.

The school of 13,662 students, who reached the field of 68 by way of an upset win in the America East tournament finale, made headlines by stunning No. 1 overall seed Virginia in a blowout win. The Retrievers were led by Jairus Lyles and K.J. Maura. Both players represent the ways that a mid-major program will look to build out a roster capable of creating some madness. Lyles, who was a three-star recruit out of DeMatha Catholic High School, played one season at VCU before transferring to Robert Morris for a semester. Lyles would then transfer to UMBC, where he could be closer to home and receive more playing time. Maura, a 5’8 guard, averaged early 10 assists per game at College of Central Florida, a junior college, before coming to UMBC where he played a key role.

With UMBC officially on the national radar, Odom talked with SB Nation ahead of the 2018-2019 season about the challenges of recruiting at a smaller school, about finding Lyles and Maura, and the ways that different schools can fit the needs of different players.

What about UMBC do you think recruits find most attractive?

First and foremost, the academics. It’s a school where they are going to be challenged in that regard, which is what you want as a student. You want to go somewhere where you’re going to be pushed and educated in a lot of different areas.

Most importantly, what school does is connect them past college. I think this school and our president made this a priority and students see that.

We’ve had some recent success, and you got great facilities. You got a lot of tools that you need to be successful in place. The campus is growing and student life is getting a lot better.

What is the most consistent challenge mid-major schools like UMBC face when it comes to recruiting?

I think kids work so hard. When kids are in high school or even when they start playing, they watch these high-level schools play night in and night out. That’s what they grow up with. It’s not about what they deserve. It’s more about what they want. They want to be the guy playing on TV in a highly contested game in a packed area. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it doesn’t mean that’s right for each kid. Every kid can’t play there. For me, it’s more about finding the right fit for that particular youngster. And that may be a mid-major.

You may fly a little bit under-the-radar, but you’re afforded the opportunity to grow a little bit quicker than elsewhere. There’s not a perfect school or perfect situation. It’s what right for you.

As a recruiter, we understand that. I think from a challenges standpoint, when kids go see higher level schools or power five schools, they are going to have all the bells and whistles that kids and parents want to see. As you begin to go down in levels, the finances are not there. So, they don’t have a lot of the facilities and are sometimes sharing gyms. There are still good programs. It doesn’t make them less likely for success. It’s just the circumstances.

What basketball or personality qualities do you look for in a player?

Character and integrity are the first things you look at. Are they well respected on their current campus via high school, junior college, or whatever they come from. That’s a huge factor you can’t underestimate.

Certainly, they have to fit whatever we need at that particular time from a basketball standpoint. Maybe it’s a position or we need athleticism or a defender. And do they fit how we play. Are they one of us or do they play like we do.

How did UMBC land a player like Jairus Lyles?

Jairus had a different path. He started out in VCU. Coming out of a great program like DeMatha, he was highly sought after. VCU was really successful at that point and still is. Shaka was still there when they brought him in. They had guys ahead of him, who were NBA players. He couldn’t get minutes early on and he loves to play. He decided to leave and went to Robert Morris. He was only there a semester then he decided he wanted to be closer to home. He chose UMBC and it was kind of late.

When you are mid-year like that, so many schools have scholarships at that particular time. UMBC had one and we were fortunate to get him. It was a unique circumstance and you have that from time to time. Guys play at the highest level and don’t get the playing time they were hoping for or it just wasn’t the right fit. They end up having to choose another school.

He chose correctly and we are thankful that he did. They are other kids too. K.J. Maura was another kid that was under recruited. We felt he was a piece we had to add in order to be successful and he meant a lot to our team as well. I think he brought a winning attitude.

He [Maura] was overlooked because of his size. He’s 5’5 and weighs about 140 pounds. Naturally, bigger schools steer clear of a guy like that. But, he’s special and he certainly proved that here.