Why Melo Trimble Could Win Player of the Year in 2015-16
Dec 13, 2014; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Melo Trimble (2) dribbles the ball in the first half against the South Carolina Upstate Spartans at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
After coming off of a stellar freshman campaign, Melo Trimble is ready to take the next step. As the leader on a deep and talented team, he could win Player of the Year in 2015.
Trimble came to College Park as a 4-star prospect out of the prestigious Bishop O’Connell High School. According to 247Sports, he was the 31st best player in the Class of 2014 and the No. 2 player in the state of Maryland. Now, if those rankings were to be re-done, Trimble would, without question, be ranked No. 1 in the state.
As a frosh, Trimble made his presence known early and often. He finished the season averaging 16.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Mark Turgeon had to be jumping for joy once the First Team All-Big Ten performer announced that he would be returning to Maryland for his sophomore year.
With all of the talent on the Terps’ roster for the upcoming season, Trimble’s name is likely to amplify amongst the college basketball pundits. Naturally, the point guard gets a great deal of attention because the ball is often in their hands, but Trimble deserves every bit of it.
Outside of D’Angelo Russell, Trimble was the most impressive freshman guard in the country. His consistent performance was a major reason why the Terps won 28 games last season.
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There is so much that this kid brings to the table. Trimble is an extremely gifted shooter. He shot 41.2 percent from behind the arc a season ago. He’s also an above average passer and defender. But, where Trimble really makes his living, is driving and attacking the basket. He’s not the type of player who shies away from the big moment. When Maryland needed a bucket, he put his head down and went to the rim, as evidenced by him attempting nearly 7.0 free throws per game.
Trimble is continuing to develop his game by playing for the United States’ Pan-American Games team this summer. He is getting the opportunity to play with and against some professional players, from whom he can gain an abundance of knowledge pertaining to basketball, as well as leadership.
The poise that Trimble exhibited as a true freshman is something that cannot be overlooked. He has played an integral role in the quick turnaround of the Maryland basketball program. If he avoids having a sophomore slump, the sky is the limit for this Terps team. Top to bottom, they are arguably the deepest roster in college basketball. Being the best player on the best team has to count for something.