Under-the-Radar NBA prospects: Melo Trimble

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Melo has been absolutely balling throughout this season. No, not Carmelo Anthony, but Romelo “Melo” Trimble of Maryland, who has been an under-the-radar player throughout the college basketball season. He has played pretty darn well.

Melo, the 6’3″, 195 pound point guard for the Terrapins, has averaged over 15 points per game, shooting 42.5 percent from the field and 37 percent from three. He has led Maryland to a 21-5 record, on pace for their best season since 2009-2010. They finished 17-15 last year.

So just who is Romelo Trimble? He’s a combo guard who was the top ranked player in the state in Maryland at the time of his commitment to the Terps. A McDonald’s All American who was the #29 ranked player in the 2014 class and the #7 ranked two guard, has made the switch to point guard and has ran the offense well. He was born in Washington, DC under Aaron and Kimberly Trimble and has an older brother and younger sister.

Trimble has performed well throughout his spectacular freshman season. In November, he posted 24 points against Monmouth University, 31 points against Arizona State, 16 points against Virginia’s stout defense and 11 points in a victory against a very good Iowa State team. Against USC Upstate he had his first double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, yes rebounds. He put up 17 points on 5-6 from three against Oakland, and 17 points again at Michigan State. Posted 20 points and six rebounds against Minnesota and 17/5/4 against and underrated Illinois team. Then, he had 24 points with six threes against Michigan State again, 27 points against Northwestern, 20 against Iowa and 18 against Indiana.

Melo is also one of four freshman on the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 watch list, and the first freshman to be named Big 10 player of the week since Jarred Sullinger in 2011. With the Big 10 loaded with talented freshman scorers including Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell and Indiana’s James Blackman Jr., Melo is at times regarded the best freshman in the Big 10 and up there with the best freshman in the country. While his size has pushed NBA scouts away from him in terms of draft status, he will for sure be a first round pick.