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‘BTPowerhouse 25’ - #2 Melo Trimble

BTPowerhouse’s staff counts down the best players in the Big Ten heading into the 2016-17 season.

By Jordan Ball
NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Conference Tournament-Maryland vs Michigan State Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

In the months leading up to the 2016-’17 college basketball season, BTPowerhouse will be releasing a new series called the 'BTPowerhouse 25,' which features the Top 25 players in the Big Ten as voted by members of the staff. All players set to be on Big Ten rosters for next season were eligible during the staff vote with their top selection receiving 25 points and their 25th and final selection receiving 1 point.

Today's edition will take a brief look at the player who wears No.2 and comes in at No.2 on this list, Maryland Terrapins’ guard Melo Trimble.

‘BTPowerhouse 25’ - #2 Melo Trimble:

  • Eligibility: Junior
  • Career Totals: 71 Games, 2356 Mins, 1102 Pts, 265 Rebs, 281 Asts, 89 Stls
  • 2015-’16 Averages: 32.8 mins, 14.8 pts, 3.6 rebs, 4.9 asts, 1.2 stls
  • Position Role: Point Guard

He is the best player on Maryland, solidifying himself among the country’s most notable players. Last season was largely a successful one for the team (although it didn’t quite meet the lofty preseason expectations) as the Terps finished third in the Big Ten and made it to the Sweet Sixteen.

Many expected Trimble, who decided against leaving for the NBA, to establish himself as the country’s best guard last season after bursting onto the scene as a freshman, but he did take a step backward and regressed in certain areas that must be fixed ahead of 2016-17.

Player Strengths

Trimble’s biggest strength is his case for being the most versatile scorer in NCAA basketball. His repertoire to compete almost anything required on offense is something fairly similar to some of last year’s breakout stars.

Trimble’s can use the pick and roll at top-notch quality, he has an effective ability to shoot from any range, also a willing passer despite forcing the issue sometimes and his innate skill to run off screens for catch and shoot opportunities is something to be noticed. If you don’t believe it, then just check the game against a tough Wisconsin team on the road.

To his credit, not only is he offensively talented, but the emergence as a leader as a sophomore and his competitiveness are what keeps Maryland in contention to compete against the country’s best.

Areas of Improvement

Now, with all of the good he exudes, there are areas he must improve. Mainly turnovers, shooting percentage and adjustments.

I stated earlier his willingness to pass, but decision making is key to being efficient and he does force the issue which is why he’s averaged almost three turnovers-per-game in both seasons.

He also averaged 16.2 points during his freshman season, declining to 14.8 in 2015-16 with his field goal percentage dropping from 44-percent to 41-percent. Nothing dropped worse than his three-point-percentage which went from the low 40-percent range to the low thirty’s.

This is where adjustment comes into the equation.

Teams figured him out in a sense that they prepared better for him and the statistical decline proves that. As a junior, he must be aware of adjusting game by game on how teams are going to defend him because if he does then some of those areas of improvement can be fixed.

Player Projection

First Team All-American. Player of the Year. Big-Ten Player of the Year. Big-Ten First Team. Those are just a few awards and categories that we’ll constantly hear his name being mentioned in because that’s what his talent demands or else why would he rank No.2 on this list (FYI I had him No.1 on my personal Top-25 list).

He’s only been named to the All-Big Ten second team back-to- back seasons and has yet to crack any of the All-American teams.

That should change this season. Trimble has the tools to make the next jump, becoming elite, and everybody around college basketball will have their eyes on him this season.

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'BTPowerhouse 25' Rankings:

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