It looks like Maryland is close to hiring Xavier assistant Bino Ranson. There has been a lot of speculation as to who Gary Williams would hire to replace Chuck Driesell (who took the Citadel job earlier in the spring), but it now appears that he has settled on Ranson. Ranson is a Baltimore native who also worked for Matt Brady at Marist and James Madison. He also has big time ties to the Baltimore AAU community.

Also, staying in the state of Maryland, it looks like new Mount St. Mary’s head coach Robert Burke is close to finalizing his staff. I’ve heard that former Georgetown DBO Matt Henry has already been hired and that Burke is looking to fill two more spots. Names that have popped up are St. Albans head coach (and former Maryland player) Duane Simpkins, Bowie State assistant Ahmad Dorsett and Tulane assistant Harold Juluke. The strangest name that I’ve heard associated with this one is former Duke guard and Syracuse quaterback Greg Paulus.

I’ll post when these hires become official.