Jake Layman’s signing brings another Terp to Minnesota pro sports

Maryland men's basketball alum Jake Layman signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday in a sign-and-trade deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. That gives the Twin Cities five pro Terps, tying it with Washington, D.C., for most professional Terps in a market.

Layman joins Minnesota Vikings’ Stefon Diggs, the Twins’ LaMonte Wade and a pair of Terps from Minnesota United FC in Dayne St. Clair and Chase Gasper. Only the District can match those numbers, with a trio of Maryland alumni on the Mystics — Kristi Toliver, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Tianna Hawkins — and Vernon Davis and Donovan Pines rounding out the list. (The Mystics also have two players who spent time at Maryland but finished their college careers elsewhere in Natasha Cloud and Kiara Leslie.)

The Atlanta Hawks and Carolina Panthers tie the Mystics for most professional Terps on a team with three each. The Hawks joined that prestigious group by acquiring No. 34 draft pick Bruno Fernando in a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers at the NBA Draft two weeks ago, reuniting him with Kevin Huerter and placing him in a frontcourt with Alex Len. The Panthers drafted DJ Moore and Jermaine Carter Jr. and also have two-time NFL champion Torrey Smith on the roster. However, there are no other pro Terps within other leagues in either market.

The New England area has three Terps of its own with J.C. Jackson and Byron Cowart on the Patriots and Mike Shawaryn on the Boston Red Sox.

Layman’s deal with the Timberwolves will be for three years, so he’ll have time to get accustomed to the area and potentially link up with other former Terps.

In other news

Fernando will join fellow Terp Robert Carter Jr. in the NBA summer league kicking off later this week. Carter will suit up for the Los Angeles Clippers, while Fernando will begin his career with the Hawks.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ Brandon Lowe was named to the American League All-Star roster. He’s the first former Maryland position player selected to the MLB All-Star Game since 1947.

Tight Ends Week roared on with another one of Mike Locksley’s transfers. Former All-MAC tight end Tyler Mabry will have a shot to make an immediate impact.

Without a scholarship punter on the current roster, football could look to a local leg in Punter Moore as a 2020 target.

Our State of the Program series has been looking at every program and their current trajectories. Here they all are in one place if you need to catch up.

Women’s lacrosse’s Emma Schettig and Kennedy Lynch will represent both Maryland and their respective nations at the Under-19 World Championships.

Happy Fourth of July!