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Maryland’s Stone, Trimble to enter NBA Draft

Diamond Stone, Alec Brennan

Maryland’s Diamond Stone (33) drives the ball as Princeton’s Alec Brennan (35) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Md., Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

AP

With forward Robert Carter Jr. having already decided to forego his remaining college eligibility, Maryland announced two more important NBA Draft decisions Monday night.

Freshman forward Diamond Stone and sophomore point guard Melo Trimble have both decided to enter the 2016 NBA Draft. However, while Stone will sign with an agent and as a result end his college career, Trimble will not be signing with an agent. Trimble would have until May 25 per the new NCAA rules to withdraw from the draft should he decide to return to Maryland for another season.

Stone’s decision to hire representation isn’t all that surprising, as he arrived on campus as a McDonald’s All-American ranked sixth in the Class of 2015 by Rivals.com. Stone averaged 12.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a freshman, and DraftExpress.com projects him to be picked 23rd in the June draft.

Trimble’s projected to be an early second round selection, a tough spot to land given the difference in contract guarantees (or lack thereof) compared to a first round choice. As a sophomore Trimble led the Terps in both points and assists, averaging 14.8 points and 4.9 assists per contest. Trimble’s scoring average dropped some from his freshman season, when he averaged 16.3 points per game, but this was to be expected given the other weapons at his disposal.

Unfortunately his percentages also dropped, going from 43.8 to 41.4 percent shooting from the field and from 40.0 to 33.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Trimble’s decision is a critical one for Mark Turgeon as he and his staff prepare for 2016-17. While rising junior Jaylen Brantley would have a season of Division I experience under his belt, he played just 8.4 minutes per contest. Should Trimble remain in the draft even more responsibility falls upon the shoulders of incoming freshman guards Anthony Cowan and Kevin Huerter.