Who Are The 3 Key Players For The Maryland Terrapins To Make A Run Next Year?

The Maryland Terrapins are returning many key players from last season's NCAA tournament team, he team is adding a 5-star recruit, and some key transfers. This all sounds great on paper, but the Terps will need three players in particular to play at an extremely high level next season if they want to compete for a Big Ten title and an NCAA tournament title.

Here are the three key players for Maryland in 2015-16.

Melo Trimble

Trimble had a fantastic freshmen campaign for the Terps last season by leading the team in a few statistical categories. He averaged 16.2 PPG, which was the most on the team that had Dez Wells, and Jake Layman. Trimble did have an impressive season at the point guard position, but he is poised to have an even better sophomore season. Trimble has terrific size for a guard, great passing ability, and he can shoot the basketball from anywhere on the court. He should lead the team in scoring again and he should take the next step as a leader for the Terps next season. Trimble can also attack the rim at will and he is a fantastic free-throw shooter, which makes him even more dangerous.

Look at some highlights from Trimble's freshmen season below:

Last season, Trimble was one of the best freshmen in the country, and next season Trimble could be one of the best point guards, and players in the country. Look for him to pick up right where he left off last season.

Jake Layman

Layman has improved year after year, and now he will be heading into his last season in College Park, and he needs to take his game to another level. He has always been a steady scorer for the Terps, but he needs to show next season that he has the ability to takeover games when players like Trimble are struggling. He does not do much of his work on the offensive end down in the paint, even though he does play in the frontcourt. He is a good jump-shooter, but not a great one, especially from deep. If he can shoot 40 percent from three next season, he will be dangerous on the offensive end.

Layman should be able to help out on both ends of the floor, but the Terps are really going to need him to score consistently every game. He cannot have any games were he is nonexistent if the Terps want to be national title contenders.

Diamond Stone

Stone is going to be the force in the paint that the Terps have desperately been looking for the last few seasons. The team has not had a great low-post player over the past couple seasons, but Stone is certainly going to be a dominant force down in the paint. Stone is going to be the most important player for Maryland next season because if he pans out and dominates in the paint, the Terps could be elevated from a very good to elite team.

Stone's high school highlights below:

Stone is a 5-star recruit that will play meaningful minutes for the team right away.

Overall

Trimble, Layman, and Stone are going to be the big three for Maryland next season, and those three players can lead the Terps to a national title.