by Jake Spitz, Maryland Media Relations Student Assistant

CHICAGO – Jake Layman, Robert Carter, Jr., Diamond Stone and Melo Trimble participated in the 2016 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago on Thursday.

Carter, Jr., an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection, had an impressive day. He had a game-high 22 points and led the blue team to a 96-93 victory in the first scrimmage of the day.

According to ESPN's Jay Bilas, Carter, Jr., was one of the most impressive players on day one.

"He stood out to me. Scored very well and he's a guy that can knock down perimeter shots. He can really stretch the defense. I thought he had a great day and he answered a lot of questions."    

Carter Jr. also caught the eye of many draft experts on Twitter.

Jonathan Givony of Draft Express wrote, “Robert Carter is probably having the best first half of anyone in game one of the #NBACombine. Scoring inside and out; playing hard on defense.”

“I've been playing this game for a long time so it was fun for me to go out there,” Carter Jr. said during media availability. “Hopefully scouts were impressed with my game and hopefully I'm able to find a team. Like I said, all I need is one team to believe in me and I'll be fine.”

Carter Jr. has met with the Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks. He plans on meeting with the New York Knicks and other teams on Friday.

Layman contributed to a balanced scoring effort by the blue team in their game two victory over the white team, which featured his Maryland teammate in Trimble.

Layman, an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection, tallied nine points and six rebounds in the scrimmage. He also was mentioned by Bilas, who said he is, “athletic running the floor and can stretch the defense.”

Mark Jones of ESPN also noted that Layman, “has the prototypical size and athleticism to play in the NBA.”

Trimble, a two-time All-Big Ten selection and an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American in 2016, started for the white team.

“I want to show that I'm a leader and I can run their team,” Trimble said. “I just want to play like myself, not do too much and play my best."

Stone, the All-Big Ten Third Team selection, did not participate in the physical component of the combine, but is in Chicago to meet with teams and the media. Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon is in Chicago to take in all the action.

“It's big,” Carter said when discussing having his coach in the building. “It shows what the Maryland family is all about.”

The 2016 NBA Draft Combine will air on the ESPN family of networks including ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3. For a complete listing of times and channels, please click here.

 

ROBERT CARTER, JR.

On how playing in the Big Ten has prepared him for the NBA:

“The Big Ten is an amazing conference. I've had an advantage since I've played in the Big Ten and the ACC so I've gotten to see a lot of these players and a lot of different talent. A lot of guys from our conference go to the NBA and playing in the Big Ten has been a huge help in terms of the level of competition and the physicality.”

On head coach Mark Turgeon watching him play at the combine:

“It's big. It shows what the Maryland family is all about. Between the community and the campus, everyone loves Maryland basketball. I'm sure a lot of Terps are out there watching so I just want to say thank you for all the support all year.”

On having former Maryland teammates participating in the combine as well:

“We haven't seen each other in a long time considering we had been together every day for the past four months. We're enjoying seeing each other. Jake [Layman] actually trained out here so we've all been hanging out in his apartment and having a good time. It's definitely comforting having your teammates out here with you.”

JAKE LAYMAN

On having teammates with him at the combine:

“It's great to have guys that you know around you. It makes you more comfortable when you're out there seeing familiar faces.”

MELO TRIMBLE

On what the NBA Draft process is like:

“You see the top players in the country out here competing. I'm very excited.”
On having former Maryland teammates at the combine...

“It helped me. Playing against Jake was fun. It just let me play like myself.”