There was a lot of hype following Jake Layman into his freshman year at Maryland. The 6-foot-8 forward from the Boston suburbs had made a dramatic leap in national recruiting rankings between his junior and senior seasons in high school, then got another boost when he made the under-18 U.S. national team the summer before he came to College Park.
The first few months at Maryland were a bit overwhelming for Layman, on and off the court. Mark Turgeon softened his approach with Layman around Christmas after talking with the freshman's parents, and Layman responded during the second half of the season. He lived up to his reputation as a player who could shoot long range, and showed off his athletic skills around the basket.
Going into his sophomore year, the hype keeps growing. Layman led the Terps in scoring in their three-game summer tour in the Bahamas, and figures to play a major role this season. Noticeably shy and less cocky than most Division I players, Layman seems more comfortable around his teammates as well as the media.
"I think it's definitely confidence. Last year, I struggled with that a little bit, having confidence here and there," Layman said at the team's media day Tuesday. "I think this year, I kind of found myself. I know what I can do and I should be doing it. Last year, playing college ball, I guess I just took longer to adjust than some guys do."
Layman never doubted his ability to play at a high level.
"I knew if I kept pushing, I would be fine," he said.