By HockomockSports.com Staff
Former HockomockSports Player of the Year Jake Layman is heading overseas for his next professional basketball venture as he signed with Seahorses Mikawa of the Japan Professional Basketball League.
Layman starred at King Philip a decade ago, racking up a slew of accolades including Hockomock League MVP after averaging 26.5 points per game, 16 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks his senior year. After a terrific career at the University of Maryland, he was selected with the 47th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. The pick was traded to Portland, where he played in 141 games for the Trail Blazers over the course of three seasons.
In 2019, he signed a three-year, $11.5 million contract in a sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. A toe injury derailed a strong start to his first year in the North Star State, averaging 11.3 points and 3.2 rebounds a game coming off the bench in November but didn’t return to play again until February for three games before the NBA season moved to The Bubble and the Timberwolves’ season came to a close. He played in 79 games over the course of the next two seasons, playing a total of 243 NBA games over six seasons.
The Boston Celtics invited Layman to camp before the 2022-2023 season, and he appeared in a pair of preseason games but was waived on October 15th. He was set to sign with Baxi Manresa of the Liga ACB shortly after but another injury prevented him from joining the Spanish club.
Below is a statement from Layman released by the Seahorses Mikawa.
“I am absolutely ecstatic to announce my signing with the Seahorses Mikawa of the Japanese Basketball League. I couldn’t be more thrilled to join such a world-class organization that has shown an incredible desire to have me on board. The team’s strong vision and commitment to excellence align perfectly with my goals as a player.
One of the major factors in my decision was the opportunity to reunite with Coach Ryan Richman, whom I’ve known for over 10 years. Our relationship dates back to my time at the University of Maryland, where Coach Richman played a pivotal role in my development as a player. To have the chance to work with him again at a professional level is truly special, and I’m confident our connection will greatly benefit the Seahorses Mikawa.
Additionally, I’m eager to immerse myself in the vibrant basketball culture of Japan and embrace the passion of the Seahorses Mikawa’ fans. I look forward to this new chapter in my basketball career and am committed to making the most of every moment with the Seahorse Mikawa Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my journey, and I can’t wait to get started.”