Jake Layman plays starring role for U.S. team in opening weekend of FIBA Americas tournament

Jake Layman's selection to USA Basketball's U-18 team shouldn't be a surprise any more. After the first weekend of play at the FIBA Americas U-18 Championship, the future Terp answered all questions about his place on the national team.

On Sunday, Layman scored a game-high 18 points to lead the U.S. to a 110-59 win over Mexico in Sao Sebastiáo do Paraiso, Brazil.

"Jake Layman gave us really good 3-point shooting and obviously our frontcourt did a great job on the glass," U.S. and Florida Gators coach Billy Donovan said in a news release. When we subbed everybody today contributed and gave us really good minutes. Everybody scored and I think when we subbed we didn't really have a drop off , everybody really contributed and helped."

Said Layman: "I felt good shooting. They were leaving me open so I took the shots and I was putting them in today."

In the United States' 105-42 win over the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday, Layman scored seven points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds in just 14 minutes.

Layman and Team USA (2-0) will face Brazil next. The winner will earn the preliminary-round Group A's No. 1 seed for the medal-round semifinals.