Terps to celebrate Layman, seniors in final home game

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- It’s been a long four-year journey for Terps wing Jake Layman, who came to College Park as a four-star recruit from Massachusetts with a dangerous outside game and will play his last game in Xfinity Center March 3 against Illinois.

Layman experienced moments of trial and times of triumph while at Maryland, but his game has grown tremendously along the way and he finds himself as one of the leaders of a 23-win Terps team that will honor him and three other seniors before the game against the Fighting Illini.

“Obviously when you’re having the kind of year we’re having you have great seniors,” Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon said.

Layman will be celebrated alongside Rasheed Sulaimon, Varun Ram and Trevor Anzmann, but he is the only one of them that has played at least 20 minutes per game for Turgeon since he was a freshman.

“Jake has had a great career,” Turgeon said. “He won 25 his freshman year, he won 28 as a junior and he’s won 23 already this year. He has a chance to leave here as one of the all-time winningest players if we start getting hot. He kicked it into gear. He’s had fun. He’s enjoyed it. He loves Maryland. And that’s really what’s important. You can tell when a kid is totally bought in and respects the process. Jake respected it and continued to work, therefore, he’s gotten better every season.”

After a 17-win sophomore season in 2014, most of the recruiting class Layman entered College Park with decided to transfer and he admitted that it’s a “little weird” not celebrating his senior night with them but said he never considered leaving Maryland.

“Looking back to that situation, I didn’t want to leave,” Layman said. “There wasn’t any reason that would make me want to leave. I told Turgeon that I’m staying here and I want to be a Terp and now we’re here.”

Turgeon commended Layman for his loyalty to him and the Terps program and said the 6-foot-9, 220-pounder really made the biggest strides in his game after he reaffirmed his commitment to Maryland.

“I think Jake took it to a whole new level at that point,” Turgeon said. “He was a specialist when he came here and now he’s a basketball player, so that’s a good feeling for me. But it’s all because of how hard he worked. He worked on his foot speed when he first got here. He worked on his strength. He had to work on his handle.

“The thing that’s really amazing about Jake is his feel for the game now. He really struggled with his feel his first and second year and now offensively and defensively he’s just got a great feel--he’s playing at a good pace. And that’s really hard to teach when people don’t get that. And I just think he studied enough film, the game slowed down for him, and he’s just got a great feel now, which gives him a chance to be really successful after college.”

Speaking of life after college for Layman, Turgeon believes his play as of late has perhaps boosted his stock enough that an NBA team could ante up for him in the first round of this year’s draft.

Over Maryland’s last four games, Layman is averaging 13 points on 71.4 percent shooting and 1.25 blocks per game.

“I think he’s playing his way maybe into the first round of the NBA Draft,” Turgeon said. “He’s really playing well right now. He’s become a complete player. He defends really well; he’s playing at a great pace; he’s scoring on all levels right now. And there’s a reason we’ve won 23 games already.”

Layman’s transformation has also been seen by his teammates. Ram said he’s seen Layman mature on and off the court.

“Jake’s a totally different player,” Ram said. “He came in wide-eyed and with his long floppy hair. But he’s come a long way in terms of maturity and his game has evolved. He came in as just a shooter but now he can pass, he makes the right passes, he makes people around him better, he can make the right play. Not even just on the court, off the court with his academics he has been a lot more serious and he’s going to graduate. I feel like Maryland has made him a man and it’s good to see.”

Although he’s only been with the Terps for one season, Sulaimon has witnessed Layman’s preparation, which he said has been contagious as the two of them have built a close bond.

“It’s been amazing,” Sulaimon said. “Just his work ethic, his approach to the game. You can tell he’s a senior. He’s still the first one diving on loose balls and taking charges. But being able to work with him everyday and be around him, I consider him one of my close friends as a brother and it’s just been a very special year.”

Turgeon also had praise for Sulaimon and Ram as seniors who helped lead the Terps this season.

“Rasheed Sulaimon has obviously had one year with us but he’s had an unbelievably great year,” Turgeon said.” I think he should be First-Team All Defense in the Big Ten, if not, [Defensive] Player of the Year. He has really defended well. He’s been a great leader--great for Melo [Trimble]. He’s been great for all of us. He’s helped us get where we are and be successful and keep this thing going at a high level. So it’s been a great year for Rasheed and I’m glad he’s here.

“Varun [Ram]--the only guy in history to have two senior days (laughs). But Varun has had another great year. He’s tremendous in practice--his high energy makes Melo better. He’s a special kid who’s going to do great things in life off the basketball court. He’s been fun to coach.”

Turgeon credited Anzmann for his work while in College Park as well.

“Trevor Anzmann hasn’t been with us long but he’s had a terrific year,” Turgeon said. “He’s very vocal and has found his niche within the team this year. He’s done a terrific job with the scout team and getting our guys prepared before games. He’s just a wonderful kid who’s going to be very successful in life.”

All the seniors and their teammates will enjoy their time reminiscing before the game, but as soon as the ball tips off, they all have one common goal.

“We’re looking to get a win and celebrate senior night the right way,” Sulaimon said.