Sean Mosley of Maryland Does the Little Things, but Nothing More

Some athletes are just not meant for the spotlight.

There are plenty of people who are more productive in the shadows.

Sean Mosley has spent four seasons avoiding being the player everyone notices on the Maryland basketball team.

The 6’4” guard was a 4-star recruit coming out of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, and Terps fans were thrilled when the local star decided to come to Maryland.

Mosley made an impact on the team almost immediately. In his freshman year the guard played in every game and helped Maryland reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

He did not score a lot of points, but his ability to get tough rebounds and grab loose balls was vital to the team’s success.

Sophomore year is when Mosley started to really show his potential. As the fourth option behind three quality seniors—including All-American Greivis Vasquez—Mosley averaged 10.1 points per game and was second on the team with 5.1 rebounds.

The guard chose his shots wisely and never tried to overextend himself. When his teammates needed a boost against Villanova, the sophomore scored 26 points. However, he mostly deferred to the veterans with the game on the line.

After Vasquez, Eric Hayes and Landon Milbourne graduated, most people expected Mosley to take the next step in his career and be “the man.”

The problem is that is something he has never tried to be.

He stayed tentative, never truly taking control of a game like many fans expected.

Although he still did the small things, it was the larger things that Maryland needed. Only six times did Mosley take 10 shots in a game. He finished as the sixth-leading scorer on a team that did not even qualify for the NIT.

As a junior, he regressed in every major statistical category from points to turnovers, even though the Terrapins needed him more than ever.

The current season seems to be more of the same. The senior is not playing poorly, but he still does not take control of a game like a leader of a basketball team should.

New head coach Mark Turgeon thinks very highly of Mosley, at one time calling him the most important person in his life after his family. Why not? Every coach would love a player that can play solid defense, dives on the floor for loose balls and makes the smart play more often than not.

However, Mosley is not meant to be on a struggling team. He would be a fantastic addition to a championship contender, but he will never be the top dog on a successful squad.

It is truly a shame because he has the athleticism, talent and attitude to be one of the best players in the ACC and possibly even the country. What he lacks is the need for the ball to be in his hands when it matters. That is something that all great basketball players have.

Mosley just never took that next step towards greatness.