The Maryland NBA Summer League preview

The NBA Summer League has already started for a few teams, but the action starts in full on Friday night. Three different Maryland products are slated to be a part of the show.

The Terps had two players drafted this spring, but both Kevin Huerter and Justin Jackson are recovering from injuries and will be held out of summer league action. However, a trio of former teammates—Jake Layman, Melo Trimble and Diamond Stone—will all have the chance to showcase their skills.

Layman is the only member of the trio who’s currently signed with his team, as the Portland Trail Blazers guaranteed the third year of his contract last week. He’s been an inconsequential member of the team since being drafted in 2016, averaging 1.6 points in 70 career games. This will be his third straight summer league with Portland, which is somewhat of a dubious distinction but doesn’t make this any less of an opportunity.

Trimble will suit up for the Chicago Bulls, the team announced earlier this week. He’ll be trying to play his way into some sort of contract, be it with Chicago or someone else. Trimble played for the Sixers last summer, then went through the preseason with Minnesota before spending the season in the G League.

Then there’s Stone, who already has an appearance under his belt. The Utah Jazz were one of eight teams to play a pair of games in Salt Lake City earlier this week. Stone picked up a DNP in the first contest Monday, but scored 10 points in 16 minutes Tuesday. Utah will face Atlanta (sans Huerter) tonight before heading to Vegas.

And as a bonus, one-time Terrapin Roddy Peters is with the New Orleans Pelicans. Peters finished his college career at Nicholls State this spring, and he’s earned at least an outside shot in the NBA.

In other news

Yahoo released its ranking of all 65 Power 5 schools in “overall athletic success,” with the Terps coming in at an uninspiring No. 43.

But also, ESPN’s list of schools that produce the most pro talent—which is generally correlated with on-field success—has Maryland at No. 2, sandwiched between North Carolina and Duke.

(The truth, obviously, is somewhere in the middle. Maryland “only” having 17 varsity sports hurts its ranking in the Yahoo list, but the inclusion of lacrosse, men’s soccer and women’s basketball makes the Terps a stalwart in the other one.)

Offensive Line Week moved to left guard, where Sean Christie will try to hold down his starting spot.

And in case you didn’t see enough fireworks last night, here are some proverbial ones for you.