Maryland men’s basketball guard Melo Trimble, the only returning starter from last season’s Sweet 16 run, was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team, the conference announced Tuesday.
Trimble is one of 10 players to earn the honor. Wisconsin forward Nigel Hayes is the conference’s preseason player of the year, a recognition Trimble received entering last season.
After leading the Terps in points (14.8) and assists (4.9) per game a year ago, Trimble declared for the NBA draft before deciding to return to school for his junior season. Despite losing four starters — guard Rasheed Sulaimon, forwards Jake Layman and Robert Carter Jr. and center Diamond Stone — Maryland is No. 22 in ESPN’s No-Longer-Way-Too-Early Top 25.
The Upper Marlboro native has started as the Terps’ point guard since arriving in College Park in 2014. He’s helped the program win 27 games in consecutive seasons and make its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2003.
Maryland fans will get their first look at this year’s Terps at Maryland Madness at the Xfinity Center on Friday. Coach Mark Turgeon’s team opens the season against American on Nov. 11.
