Maryland basketball could have an entirely new starting five next season, depending on Melo Trimble’s, Diamond Stone’s and Robert Carter Jr.’s NBA draft decisions. Thanks to a new rule allowing players to back out of the draft within 10 days after the draft combine, all three can declare for the draft (Stone reportedly has) and then still return to school if they want to.
It’s almost inevitable that at least one of the three will leave Maryland, but should they?
Melo Trimble
Draft Express NBA mock draft projection: No. 35
Should he go?
No. Trimble had a somewhat disappointing sophomore season. He settled for outside shots far too often and didn’t make nearly enough of them to justify it. His three-point shooting percentage dropped almost 10 percentage points, and he showed no improvement in the turnover category — though he did dish out almost two more assists per game.
He’s quick, he’s a great ball handler, and he has decent strength for a point guard, but his lack of size and length put him at an immediate disadvantage against NBA competition. If he gets drafted in the second round, he’s not guaranteed any money. The best option for him is to come back for another year, fine-tune what he’s already great at and try to find his shooting stroke again. If he’s successful, there’s a pretty good chance he could bump himself back up into the first round. The way I see it, the only apparent downside to staying would be having to declare a major.
Diamond Stone
Draft Express projection: No. 23
Should he go?
Yes. NBA teams draft players based largely off potential, and Stone is a gold mine. Put quite simply, he knows how to put the ball in the basket. He’s more coordinated than most guys his size, he’s got great footwork, and he can step out and knock down mid-range shots. He will likely get drafted in the first round, and that comes with a guaranteed four-year contract. He shouldn’t pass that up. He has a ton of room for improvement when it comes to passing, post moves and decision-making, and his body isn’t NBA-ready, but NBA trainers can expedite his development.
Robert Carter Jr.
Draft Express projection: No. 51
Should he go?
No. Carter is crafty with his back to the basket and definitely has an NBA-worthy hook shot, but he’s a subpar defender and only an OK outside shooter. The three-point shot is the key to his NBA success. He shot 33.3 percent from beyond the arc this past season, up from 26.4 percent his sophomore season at Georgia Tech. If he can continue that improvement and get up closer to 40 percent, he will be a much more valuable prospect.
