WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- I know we are still more than four months away from the start of the Maryland Terrapins beginning the college basketball season.
And while the color of Maryland's football field dominates the offseason discussion, it's the other team residing in College Park who is flying under the radar.
A credible 2013 NBA mock draft has center Alex Len as a projected top 10 pick.
I know, how could that be right? He only averaged six points, five rebounds and 21 minutes last season. But remember, the NBA looks at potential, and Len has plenty of it. At 7-foot-1, Maryland's center is one of the more imposing bodies in the entire country. If Len can put it together offensively -- which is mostly on head coach Mark Turgeon in getting Len the ball in creative ways -- Maryland has a legitimate chance to finish in the top five of the ACC and garner a touted seed in March Madness.
Incoming freshman small forward Jake Layman is turning heads on the international stage.
Layman poured in a game-high 18 points in team USA's 110-59 victory over Mexico on Sunday. The 6-foot-8 forward can pop three's and slash in the lane. Maryland fans should hope he turns out to be a more polished Nik Caner-Medley, who is now playing for Valencia in Spain. Expect Layman to start from the get-go.
Duke -- and more so UNC -- are expecting down years
The Blue Devil's best returning player is power forward Mason Plumlee, someone who has underachieved in his entire career in Durham. The Tar Heels boast James Michael McAdoo, who in my opinion has shown little-to-nothing in his time at Chapel Hill. Both schools will be heavily relying on their freshman class, not an approach Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski are tickled with going into the season.