Gary Williams hires former player

COLLEGE PARK, Md., July 16 (UPI) -- Former Maryland basketball star Keith Booth was hired Friday as an assistant on the staff of Terrapins Coach Gary Williams.

Booth, who Williams has called "most important recruit" at the Atlantic Coast Conference school, replaces a former teammate, Matt Kovarik, who has announced plans to return to law school this fall.

Booth was a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bulls in 1997. In his four-year career at Maryland, the Baltimore native was a four-time all-ACC choice.

"It is a tremendous opportunity to coach at my alma mater, and at one of the top universities and basketball programs in the country," Booth said.