The UNC basketball program has one of the most talented and now experienced starting guards across college basketball heading into the 2022-23 season. But, it’s a freshman coming off of the bench that could play a critical role for the Tar Heels.
Incoming guard [autotag]Seth Trimble[/autotag] is a 6-foot-3 guard who can play on and off of the ball, giving UNC head coach [autotag]Hubert Davis[/autotag] the versatility to play him with either of [autotag]Caleb Love[/autotag] or [autotag]RJ Davis[/autotag] and keep the theme of two ball handlers on the floor at all times.
Rotations, especially bench minutes in the backcourt, was limited when it came to giving guys like Love and Davis some rest last season. Now with Trimble, you have the luxury to provide those guys with some rest.
247Sports analyst Adam Finkelstein was at USA Basketball U18 tryouts last week and broke down Trimble’s potential fit for the Tar Heels.
“With Seth, I think that the thing it’s going to be really interesting, as he fights for playing time next year, I think he’s a really good fit, particularly next to RJ Davis, like when Caleb Love comes off the floor,” Finkelstein said. “And RJ is a little undersized. He’s a tough shot maker. He’s highly skilled. Now you’ve got this bulldog in Trimble coming in right next to him, who’s gonna be able to guard whoever the toughest cover is on that end of the floor, who’s going to give you that level of physicality to match that smooth skill set of a little bit of a slighter guy in RJ.
“I really think those two are gonna complement each other really, really well regardless of the style of play.”
That physical style of play and his bigger size and length gives Trimble the tools to be a true playmaker on the defensive end of the floor. UNC’s guards already have that ability and really showed that down the stretch of last seasons National Championship appearance run.
“He can push a ball-handler outside of the middle third of the floor,” Finkelstein added. “Right off the beginning, that helps you establish your defense because however you’re going to play, you establish your weak side, you’re able to flood one side of the floor, that’s the thing we don’t talk about in an AAU game. But in this setting, you get an appreciation for it.
“He’s got that perimeter size which is going to make him switchable on the perimeter, he’s going to be able to match up with bigger guards. So not just switching ball screens, but maybe they’re switching equals on the perimeter, like one through three or one through four or whatever, he’s going to be able to do that. Those are things, that again, not to say he didn’t do them in grassroots, but I didn’t get a true appreciation for the totality of his defensive potential.”
Trimble is part of a recruiting class that looks to solidify a rotation that was extremely short for North Carolina a season ago.
While Trimble won’t be expected to play a heavy dose of minutes, his ability to play spot minutes alongside either guard will be critical to allow Davis and Love to keep their legs fresh for late game situations.
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