2016 NBA Draft Player Profile: Jake Layman (Maryland Terrapins)

While Jake Layman is probably unlikely to make the First Round of the upcoming 2016 NBA Draft, he could prove to be a valuable asset in the second round.

Maryland lost four starters after their Sweet 16 run including Layman. Teammate Diamond Stone stands alone in the first round according to Draft Express, but Layman is looking to be picked up in the second round alongside another Maryland teammate Robert Carter.

Jake Layman currently sits at No. 51 in the Draft Express NBA Mock Draft with the Boston Celtics, but plenty of other teams are gauging interest. The Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets both have a reported interest in him.

The 6-foot-9, 209 pound small forward averaged 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists en route to a PER of 19.1. He started as a stretch four for Maryland and reached a peak his junior year with 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds. His senior year dipped in productivity due to the lack of room on the court. Diamond Stone lined up at center while Robert Carter took over power forward, leaving Layman stuck at small forward for his senior year.

He put up the lowest average of points per game since his freshman year with 11.6 points and 5.3 rebounds. Luckily he increased his percentages across the board. He shot 50 percent from the floor (3 percent increase), 40 percent from deep (2 percent increase) and 83 percent (8 percent increase).

He is a very efficient scorer who can play multiple positions and has great size to dominate defenders and play physical defense. His size creates an ultimate mismatch for his opponents. His height makes him too tall and physical for other small forwards to keep up with while he is too fast and athletic for most power forwards.

His offensive game stands mostly as a catch and shoot player. 80 percent of his shots came without a dribble; a very strong skill to possess in the current NBA game.

Of course, Layman's largest issue could also turn into a deal breaker for NBA teams. He attempted the least amount of field goals of any small forward with 10.2 per game adjusted to 40 minutes according to his draft profile. His passive approach to the game is the opposite of what teams look for outside of box scores; dedication and heart.

His collegiate career ended on a high note through the NCAA tournament. While he remained fourth in scoring for the team, he helped prop the team up when the regular stars began to struggle.

Layman developed into the defensive anchor while handling a majority of scoring. Melo Trimble looked like a shadow of his former self after dealing with injuries while Diamond Stone faced a significant amount of defensive pressure, causing him to be in foul trouble frequently.

He averaged 16 points per game through the tournament after the game against Michigan while shooting 60 percent on the floor. His claim to fame came from scoring a team-high 26 points against Nebraska.

Jake Layman developed into a solid rock that can contribute on any level while not necessarily having the skills to completely take over a game. Standing as a later second round pick, he can stand as a safe choice for teams that need a viable forward to throw off defensive schemes. Whoever lands him will have a solid and underrated choice in the small forward slot.