Jake Layman’s Portland Trail Blazers are in the Summer League semifinals

For the second straight offseason, former Maryland basketball player Jake Layman will have a shot to advance to the NBA Las Vegas Summer League Finals.

Layman and the Portland Trail Blazers moved on to the semifinals, topping the Boston Celtics 95-80 in the quarterfinals on Sunday night. After starting summer league on a hot streak, the former Terp had an off scoring day, with just eight points on 3-of-8 shooting from the field (0-for-3 from beyond the arc).

Layman’s primary contribution in the win came on the defensive end. He ended his 25 minutes with four steals, as well as two rebounds and an assist. Overall, the swingman is still having a solid summer, averaging 16 points, five rebounds and two steals per game through five contests.

Layman’s going into a pivotal third year, the last on his rookie deal, and will have to prove he can be a consistent NBA role player when the season rolls around. With the win, Portland moves to 5-0 on the summer and will play Jaren Jackson and the Grizzlies in the semifinals on Monday.

In other news

Local AAU squad Team Takeover, littered with former Maryland targets, took home the Nike EYBL Peach Jam crown on Sunday, topping Russell Westbrook’s Team Why Not? with Westbrook and Takeover alum Victor Oladipo looking on.

No surprises in our latest poll, as Juan Dixon has been voted the best shooting guard in Maryland history. We’ll keep moving down the line this week.

Speaking of moving down the line, we wrapped up Defensive Ends Week. Brett Kulka stands as one of the few veterans fighting for snaps on the edge, along with some rookie ends looking for a shot.

Maryland’s newest athletic director didn’t exactly come cheap, as Damon Evans’ contract was revealed to net him at least $720,000 annually for the next six years.

Former Maryland point guard Keith Gatlin will join the college coaching ranks, joining High Point as an assistant coach after being the head coach at Wesleyan Christian Academy for the last nine years.

Another former Maryland basketball player is in legal trouble, as former Terp star Jordan Williams could see up to two years in prison stemming from a 2016 assault charge, from InsideMDSports.

The second live scouting period of the summer is underway, and Mark Turgeon wasted no time putting an offer out to 2019 shooting guard Lester Quinones. The 6’5 four-star is rated No. 75 in the country and No. 10 at his position.