Jake Layman: The X-Factor for the Maryland Terrapins

Jake Layman, the 6’9 forward has been huge for the Terps this season. He has been making big plays when the team most needs him on both ends of the floor, and he has proven that hard work pays off. Layman is now on the Karl Malone Award watch list according to an article from umterps.com. He has been a mainstay at getting double figure point totals for most of the season, except for three games. In fact, against Nebraska, he hit double figures for the 24th time in 27 games. That doesn’t happen for a lot of players and it just proves that he performs consistently at a high level; and those performances don’t go unnoticed.

I refered to him as the X-factor for the Terps once before and it really it true. Beyond the scoring the Terps receive from Dezmine Wells and Melo Trimble, Layman gives Maryland an added dimension because he can take the ball inside, shoot behind the three-point line, and serve as a solid rebounder as well.

The national attention he is receiving by being on put on the Karl Malone Award watch list further proves how great of a player he is. There is stiff competition at the power forward spot around the NCAA and on this list. Some big names include: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (University of Arizona), Aaron White (Iowa), Montrezl Harrell (Louisville), and Perry Ellis (Kansas).

Despite the stiff competition, Layman has been a staple in helping the Terps prove that bringing them into the Big Ten conference and then performing well is not a fluke at 22-5 (10-4 in Big Ten).