COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland's Jake Layman and Diamond Stone begin the next steps in their basketball journey after being selected in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft Thursday night.
Layman, a four-year letter winner, who played in 141 games for the Terps, ended what he described as “a very stressful evening” with a call from his agent that he would begin his professional career as a member of the Portland Trailblazers, after the western conference squad acquired the 47th pick from the Orlando Magic.
“I'm very excited to go to Portland,” Layman said. “They run a very fluid offense, which will suit me well. They shoot a lot of threes. I was very excited that they traded for me and that I was their only draft pick.”
Layman elected to come back for his senior year and helped lead the Terps to their first Sweet 16 appearance in 13 years. With his goal of becoming a more complete player, Layman averaged 11.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor.
“Staying for my senior really helped me,” said Layman, who was a two-time all-conference selection. “I was able to get my degree (American Studies), which was very important to me and my family. I was able to elevate my game, which put me in the position to get drafted.”
Layman spent the day trying to keep his mind off basketball by playing golf with three of his friends. He watched the draft surrounded by his family, including his parents Tim and Claire, and close friends in his hometown of Wrentham, Mass.
Layman plans to head to Portland early next week before joining the Blazers 2016 Summer League team in Las Vegas. The Blazers open Summer League play Saturday, July 9 against the Phoenix Suns.
Stone was the first Terp to go off the board Thursday evening and will head to the Los Angeles Clippers after the squad acquired the 40th overall pick from the New Orleans Pelicans in a proposed trade.
Stone watched the draft in College Park with his family and friends. In his lone season at Maryland, Stone was tabbed Associated Press Big Ten Newcomer of the Year. The 6-11 center from Milwaukee, Wisc., was a Third Team All-Big Ten selection and ranked third all-time in program history in blocks for a freshman in a single season (56). He was second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg) and established the Maryland freshman record and all-time mark at XFINITY Center with 39 points versus Penn State (12/30/15) in his inaugural Big Ten game.
Stone will join a Clippers roster that includes nine-time all-star Chris Paul, five-time all-star Blake Griffin and two-time all-defensive team member DeAndre Jordan. Jordan also played collegiately at Texas A&M under then-head coach Mark Turgeon. Stone joins an organization that has reached the playoffs in each of the past five seasons.
“I'm excited because I'll be surrounded by veterans that will take me under their wings. I can learn the ropes in an organization that's been very successful.” Stone said. "I'm blessed and thankful to be picked by the Clippers."
Stone will join the Clippers' Summer League team in Orlando, with play scheduled to begin on Saturday, July 2.
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