Guard Dion Wiley shoots during Maryland Madness on Oct. 17, 2015.

As Dion Wiley kept throwing down two-handed dunks, the realization hit him.

He was more explosive.

Intensive summer workouts, designed to make Wiley leaner but also stronger, had paid off. Last season as a freshman, the Terrapins men’s basketball guard would get tired after two dunks in an individual drill. But in a workout during the Terps’ second summer session in late July, Wiley had emphatic dunks on every drive, six or seven in total.

Wiley, who lost 10 pounds in the offseason, used to struggle with his shot toward the end of practice as he grew tired. That changed over the summer, and while he’ll likely come off the bench again, he believes he’s better prepared entering his sophomore campaign.

“It helped my defensive abilities and my ball handling and my shooting abilities,” Wiley said. “My shot is more consistent and I can stay in the game longer.”

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Wiley wasn’t the only one who noticed his newfound hops during that drill in the summer. Assistant coach Dustin Clark told Wiley he noticed a change in his athleticism.

It’s a stark difference from last season, when head coach Mark Turgeon would often complain Wiley wasn’t practicing hard enough, he said. While the Oxon Hill native felt like he was giving it his all, Wiley realized this summer his lack of conditioning had held him back.

“I don’t think I practiced that hard compared to what I’m practicing like now,” Wiley said. “Cause I go hard now.”

Over the summer, he would work on his cardio with starting point guard Melo Trimble and walk-on guard Trevor Anzmann. While others lifted, the trio would run on the treadmill and work on the VersaClimber, which simulates a climbing motion.

The guards made a competition out of the workouts, and the loser had to push a mop head down the hallway and back.

Wiley also got extended runs in practice when Trimble, the Big Ten preseason player of the year, was with Team USA this summer. It allowed him and sophomore forward Jared Nickens to work on their shot more in a competitive setting.

“It just helped us get better,” Nickens said. “Now when Melo and [Duke transfer Rasheed Sulaimon] get back knowing that we can do certain things can take a lot of the pressure off them.”

When the season begins Nov. 13, Wiley will compete for minutes on a crowded roster. Last season, he was eighth on the team in minutes (13.5 per game) and started two games.

Wiley, who primarily plays shooting guard, finished seventh last season in points per game (4.1), though he attempted more than two 3-pointers per game. But the Potomac product shot 32.9 percent from behind the arc.

Wiley said he believes his shooting form will be better this season because he’s in better shape. And he maintains he isn’t worried about his role on the team.

Turgeon doesn’t expect minutes distribution to be a problem, either. The fifth-year coach said players know they could win a championship, so they’re willing to sacrifice some minutes.

“All teams that are great have to give up something,” Turgeon said.

While Turgeon might have criticized Wiley’s work ethic at times last season, he spent the summer in the gym making sure that won’t happen again.

So whenever his number is called this season, he’ll be ready.

“I’m in the best shape of my life, honestly,” Wiley said. “I feel as though probably the most athletic I’ve been in a while, too.”