Well-traveled Evans lands with Terrapins

Maryland signed vagabond junior college shooting guard Tyree Evans yesterday, a move that adds a player with both much-needed perimeter skills and considerable baggage to the Terrapins’ program.

Evans, who played last year at Motlow State Community College in Tennessee, figures to provide a lift after shooting 44 percent on 3-pointers last season to a Maryland team that ranked 282nd of 328 full-fledged Division I teams in 3-pointers made (5.4 a game).

But Evans also carries a tumultuous past.

He was charged with statutory rape while at the Winchendon School in Massachusetts, prompting Cincinnati — then coached by Bob Huggins — to veer away from Evans’ commitment to the program in 2005. Evans later plead to a lesser charge.

Evans has since bounced from Butler County (Kan.) Community College — where he was booted from the team — to Motlow State, where he averaged 21.1 points last year.

Maryland coach Gary Williams was unavailable for comment last night.

The signing tentatively moves the Terrapins to the NCAA Division I limit of 13 scholarships. Evans and high school guard Sean Mosley have signed with Maryland, replacing departing scholarship seniors James Gist and Bambale Osby.

It also could mean the end of Bobby Maze’s chances of landing with the Terps. Maze is a junior college guard who committed to Maryland, and his addition would squeeze someone else off the roster.

Evans, who despite his many travels will have two years of eligibility, is the sixth junior college transfer brought into Maryland’s program since 2001-02.