Are the Kentucky Wildcats and Maryland Terrapins in a “two dog race” for Aaron and Andrew Harrison?

For most of the past year, it has been almost a foregone conclusion that the Kentucky Wildcats and John Calipari were the favorites for the Harrison twins, Andrew and Aaron. But is it that easy? Could Kentucky be just a couple of months away from locking the foundation for another top rated recruiting class? Well, we know that Kentucky will be it until the bitter end, but a Baltimore Sun writer seems to think that it may be a “two dog race” between Kentucky and Maryland.

Kentucky makes sense for the twins for all the obvious reasons. It is a virtual factory for one-and-done prospects — which Andrew and Aaron both are — and would easily be a top contender for a national title with the Harrisons in Lexington.

Maryland, on the other hand, has several strong connections with the Harrisons that could tip the scales in their favor. Their father and AAU coach, Aaron Harrison, Sr., is from Baltimore and is close friends with assistant coach Bino Ranson. The twins still have a considerable amount of extended family in the Baltimore area, and their friend and former Defenders teammate Shaquille Cleare figures to be an impact player on the Terps as a freshman this year.

In a rare daily double in the morning five, another Baltimore Sun article seems to think that the Terrapins have more than a fighting chance to land the heralded duo:

After all, the twins could be the greatest brother pairing of all time, and Maryland seems to have more than a fighting chance at landing their services. Their father, Aaron Harrison, Sr., grew up in Baltimore and played at Patterson High School. He is close friends with assistant coach Bino Ranson, and has spoken openly about his fondness for coach Mark Turgeon.

“He’s a great man,” said Aaron Harrison, Sr., who is also the Defenders’ coach. “I reached out to him when Aaron and Andrew were in the ninth grade and he was at Texas A&M. I told him I wanted my kids to be surrounded by quality people, and I thought he was that.”

Andrew and Aaron have toured the Maryland campus three times — often while visiting family in Baltimore — and have come away impressed with the program’s family atmosphere.

Now just imagine if the Lexington Herald Leader showed the same love for Kentucky basketball players that the Baltimore Sun shows for Maryland recruits. What a wonderful place Lexington could be. Just imagine.