For the second straight year, Maryland men’s basketball guard Melo Trimble made the watch list for the Bob Cousy award, given annually to the nation’s top point guard.
Trimble is one of 20 players on the list, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday. He was one of 10 finalists for the honor last year, but former Kentucky guard Tyler Ulis claimed the award.
Wisconsin guard Bronson Koenig is the only other Big Ten player to make the list. Trimble and Koenig also made the preseason All-Big Ten team, which the conference announced Oct. 11.
Trimble’s production dipped from 16.2 to 14.8 points per game across his first two seasons, but his assists increased by almost two a contest as he worked to set up teammates such as 2016 NBA draft picks center Diamond Stone and forward Jake Layman. Guard Rasheed Sulaimon, Trimble’s backcourt teammate a year ago, is currently a member of the Charlotte Hornets.
Trimble is the only returning starter from last year’s squad, so coach Mark Turgeon said the Upper Marlboro native has taken more of a leadership role as the Terps aim to make their third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.
