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Maryland Basketball: Senior Night is a time to reflect

By Chris Bengel

Feb 21, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins forward Jake Layman (10) prepares to shoot the ball as Michigan Wolverines guard Duncan Robinson (22) defends during the second half at Xfinity Center. The Terrapins won 86-82. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins forward Jake Layman (10) prepares to shoot the ball as Michigan Wolverines guard Duncan Robinson (22) defends during the second half at Xfinity Center. The Terrapins won 86-82. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Maryland basketball team plays their final home game on Thursday.

The annual tradition of Senior Night is a time reflect on a player’s accomplishments.

Prior to Thursday’s game against Illinois, Trevor Anzmann, Jake Layman, Varun Ram, and Rasheed Sulaimon will all be honored for their contributions to the program. Layman, Ram, and Sulaimon all have had extraordinary moments during their time in College Park.

Out of all the players that have come through the program under coach Mark Turgeon‘s tenure, none have personified hard work and determination like Layman.

Back in the fall of 2011, Layman committed to Maryland after taking in the infamous football game against Miami (Fla.). Prior to getting Layman on campus, the Terrapins were thought to be luring DeMatha Catholic (Md.) forward Jerami Grant to College Park.

As many know, Grant ended up playing just two years at Syracuse before declaring for the 2014 NBA Draft. The former local standout was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers and is currently enjoying a productive career in the NBA.

Electing to accept a commitment from Layman rather continuing to pursue Grant ended up benefiting Maryland. Grant was actually rated as a better prospect during his high school days.

Layman has caught a fair amount of criticism during his Maryland career, which is tied in with the fact that many thought he had enormous potential. The Massachusetts native has shown significant improvement since his freshman campaign.

His numbers have dipped a bit as a senior, but that’s to be expected when you have all five starters averaging double figures.

In his junior and senior seasons, Layman became more than just a three-point shooter. The Maryland forward was able to put the ball on the floor a large majority of the time and finish at the rim.

While he’s only been with the program for one season, Sulaimon has been a phenomenal addition for the Terps.

Late last season, Sulaimon found himself at a crossroads as he was dismissed from the basketball team at Duke. The Texas native was able to graduate in May and pursue opportunities as a graduate transfer.

Fortunately for Maryland, Turgeon had recruited Sulaimon when he was at Texas A&M and was very familiar with Sulaimon both on and off the court. After doing their due diligence, Maryland was comfortable with the answers they were given and Sulaimon elected to bring his talents to College Park.

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If you’re looking for a model of consistency, look no further than Sulaimon. You could also make a case that Sulaimon has been the team’s MVP this season.

Sulaimon has shot a team-high 45.5 percent from beyond the arc and is averaging 11.7 points-per-game. He also scored in double figures in 16 games this season.

Despite only one game under his belt at Maryland, Sulaimon was still able to drill the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:17 left against Georgetown in November. It showed that no moment was too big for the former Blue Devil star.

Finally, one of most beloved figures in recent Maryland history is the infamous Varun Ram.

Ram started off his collegiate career at Division III Trinity College (Conn.) before electing to transfer back home to Maryland following his freshman season. During his sophomore campaign, he was forced to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules.

Ram has played the last three years for the Terps and has been a primary backup to Melo Trimble at times. He has also been used for his defense by Turgeon, especially during the past two seasons.

He did mange to score a career-high eight points against Bowie State this season.

The most memorable play of Ram’s career came in last season’s NCAA Tournament game against Valparaiso. With Maryland clinging to a 65-62 lead in the closing seconds, Ram knocked the ball out of Keith Carter’s hands and help secure the win for the Terps.

While he hasn’t been an offensive juggernaut by any stretch, this is a hard-working player that every Maryland fan roots for.

Maryland has an incredible trio that will be honored on Thursday evening. Every player has taken a completely different path to achieve success and get where they are today.

Next: Terps look to rebound against Illinois

These are three players that will definitely be missed once the curtain closes on their collegiate careers, but Thursday will be a fantastic personal moment for every single one of them.