With Extra Year of Growth, Draft Prospect Melo Trimble Wants to Bring Leadership to Sixers

Melo Trimble is a familiar face in the draft process.

Last year, the point guard contemplated going pro after his sophomore year and was an early entrant for the 2016 draft. Trimble decided to return for his junior year at Maryland, and this time around he is heading into the draft with an additional skill set to his game.

"I was able to pick something up, something that I didn't have for the past two years, which was being a leader and just being able to run a team," Trimble said Monday following his workout with the Sixers

Trimble knows about playing with a young team. Maryland started three freshmen most of last season. Trimble believes the leadership he gained would be a fit for the team in the backcourt. The Sixers observed how his game had changed from his sophomore to junior year.

"I think it was a good decision for him to stay," Sixers vice president of player personnel Marc Eversley said. "I think Melo's gift is he can score. I think he's a very effective three-point shooter, I think he runs the pick-and-roll very well. I think he's a very good decision-maker and his vision's elite. I think he's a very good passer."

Last season, Trimble averaged 16.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He led the Terrapins in scoring for the third straight year.

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Still, the 2017 first-team All-Big Ten selection and AP honorable mention All-American is fighting to prove himself in his workouts. Trimble is projected to go late in the second round or undrafted in many mock drafts. 

He isn't paying attention to those, though. Trimble has a different outlook about the draft compared to last year.

"I'm just more confident," he said. "I don't really read what people are saying about me and mock drafts or anything like that. I just know that team workouts are very important. It's every man for himself … I just feel a lot better about myself and like I said, I just think I'm mentally tough."

The Sixers have four second-round picks (Nos. 36, 39, 46 and 50) in addition to the third overall. 

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