COLLEGE PARK, MD - The bulk of the 2021-22 NBA season gets underway tonight as six former Maryland men's basketball players embark on a new year.
The six Terrapins include Bruno Fernando (Boston Celtics), Kevin Huerter (Atlanta Hawks), Jake Layman (Minnesota Timberwolves), Alex Len (Sacramento Kings), Jalen Smith (Phoenix Suns) and Aaron Wiggins (Oklahoma City Thunder).
Head coach Mark Turgeon has proven to be among the best in the Big Ten in getting players to the NBA, as his seven NBA draft selections in the past six seasons are tied for the most in the Big Ten during that span.
BRUNO FERNANDO - 3rd Season
First game: at NYK, Oct. 20, 7:30 pm - ESPN
Bruno Fernando is set to make his Boston Celtics debut tonight after spending the last two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. Fernando appeared in 89 games, making 13 starts for the Hawks.
Fernando was traded to the Celtics on July 30 alongside Kris Dunn and a 2023 second round pick in exchange for Tristan Thompson and Chris Kirschner.
The first Angolan in history to appear in the NBA, Fernando is looking forward to a fresh start in Boston after making one of the final roster spots.
For those wondering, the Maryland fan-favorite has maintained his patented energy during his time in the league.
"Sometimes I just be talking crazy, but I know that lifts guys up," said Fernando in an interview for masslive.com. "I just be yelling stuff. Sometimes that's all you gotta do. Sometimes your teammates are going to hear you. Sometimes just yell whatever you gotta say. As long as they hear your voice, they know you're there for them."
KEVIN HUERTER - 4th Season
First game: vs. Dallas, Oct. 21, 7:30 pm - TNT
Kevin Huerter was the talk of the town earlier this week when it was reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that he had agreed to a 4-year, $65-million extension with the Atlanta Hawks.
It was a warranted extension after Huerter exploded on the national stage during the Hawks' incredible run to the NBA Conference Finals last season.
He gained his most notoriety for his Game 7 performance against the Philadelphia 76ers, when he led a struggling Hawks offense to victory.
Huerter rightly earned high praise from Hawks president and general manager Travis Schlenk in regard to his extension: "It was important to our group to secure Kevin as a part of our team moving forward. He's developed into a versatile, two-way player who can fit any lineup and can play minutes all over the perimeter. We are excited his future is in Atlanta."
Huerter has appeared in 200 career games over three seasons for the Hawks, making 156 starts.
JAKE LAYMAN - 6th Season
First game: vs. Houston, Oct. 20, 8:00 pm
Jake Layman enters his sixth season in the NBA and third with the Minnesota Timberwolves after appearing 45 games (11 starts) last season.
Layman is entering his final season of a three-year deal with Minnesota and he recognizes it is a make-or-break year in a recent article with twincities.com.
"I think you're going to see a new Jake this year. A more aggressive on defense Jake, so I think that's my path to playing time is on defense, show my aggression, help us on that end," he said. "My mindset is there's nothing to lose this year, to have zero regrets after the year is done."
Jake and his wife Jasmine, who he met at the University of Maryland, gave birth to their first child, Isaiah, earlier this year.
ALEX LEN - 9th Season
First game: at Portland, Oct. 20, 10:00 pm
The longest tenured former Terp, Alex Len enters his ninth season in the NBA as he makes his return to Sacramento for his second stint. He appeared in 15 games at the end of the 2019-20 season for the Kings.
Len had a renaissance season for the Washington Wizards in 2020-21, where he appeared in 57 games (40 starts) and averaged 7.1 points and 4.4 rebounds.
The Ukrainian was a free agent following his season with the Wizards and signed a two-year deal with Sacramento on Aug. 2.Â
"I was actually trying to come back last year but it didn't work out," Len told sactownroyalty.com. "I had a couple of options and was kind of comfortable coming back, knowing the coaching staff, knowing some of the players. It was a good opportunity to come in, make an impact and possibly make the playoffs this year. I like the opportunity here."
JALEN SMITH - 2nd Season
First game: vs. Denver, Oct. 20, 10:00 pm - ESPN
A top-10 pick for the Phoenix Suns, Smith made it all the way to the NBA Finals in his rookie season before falling to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Smith played sparingly, however, as he missed summer league action due to COVID, before suffering injuries and succumbing to COVID himself early in the season.
It didn't take long for Smith to show what he could do this summer, however, as he led the Summer League in rebounds and often found himself dominating games.
He played so well that he has been in talks around the league as a possible trade option due to the Suns' bevy of options in the frontcourt.
Maryland fans remember Smith adding muscle to his frame from his freshman to sophomore season as a Terrapin, and he has done much of the same in Phoenix adding about 15 pounds to his frame.
"Obviously, the added muscle is gonna be another major impact for me to withstand hits a lot longer and being able to guard bigs and wings as well," said Smith to AZCentral.com.
AARON WIGGINS - Rookie Season
First game: at Utah, Oct. 20, 9:00 pmÂ
Aaron Wiggins begins his rookie season in the NBA tonight after signing a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Aug. 15.
It has been quite the journey for Wiggins, who originally missed out on an NBA Combine invite before playing his way into an invite and eventually being selected in the second round of the draft by the Thunder.
He then shined in five appearances during Summer League action, averaging 11 points and shooting 42-percent from the floor.
He will split time between the Thunder and the organization's G-League affiliate OKC Blue in hopes that he can earn a full NBA contract.
Wiggins is using his offseason appearances as a foundation for success as he embarks onÂ
"It kind of just laid a foundation and a little bit of a base for what I was going to be going into," Wiggins said. "The physicality and the pace. The actions that you're going through and stuff, there's a lot that you kind of have to adjust to. But we're taking it one day at a time. I'm continuing to kind of get a feel for it all."
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