For Denzel And Melo, College Stardom Hasn’t Translated Into NBA Success

Some players live up to the hype. Others don’t. 

Let’s take a trip back in time. It’s Spring 2015. The early months of that year showcased spectacular NCAA basketball, particularly in the Big Ten. Powerhouse Maryland advanced to the Round of 32 and Michigan State went all to the way to the Final Four.

More of the same was expected in 2016. And team stars–Maryland’s Melo Trimble and MSU’s Denzel Valentine–were rated among the top four players in college basketball.

But things didn’t turn out well for either player. Success hasn’t found either of them in the pros, either.

Denzel Valentine

Denzel Valentine is a 6’6” 212 lb. small forward. Rated #2 in his state of Michigan coming out of high school, Valentine didn’t have much of an impact during his first two years at MSU (6.5 ppg, 3.1 apg, and 5 rpg).

But Valentine’s game grew big-time during his junior year. In 2014-15 Valentine averaged 14.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 4.3 apg. He led the Spartans to the Final Four.

That explosion put his name on the NBA’s radar. ESPN ranked him the 3rd best college player.

Valentine hangs his head after MTSU beat his Spartans (photo, WSJ.com)

Valentine lived up to expectations, too. He scored 19.2 ppg and averaged 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game. MSU was the #2 seed in the NCAA tournament.

But excitement faded quickly when MSU was upset in the NCAA First Round by an upstart–#15-seed Middle Tennessee.

Soon thereafter Valentine declared for the NBA draft.

A first-round pick, Valentine went to Chicago. Bulls’ fans went ballistic. Valentine would be a perfect fit with superstar Jimmy Butler, they thought. And sensing something great, the Bulls decided to ‘go all in’ by signing veterans Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade.

But things didn’t work out as planned. The chemistry wasn’t right among Butler, Rondo, and Wade, and Valentine didn’t play well (5.1 ppg, 36% from three). Courtesy of the Boston Celtics the Bulls exited the playoffs in the very first round.

The following year Denzel faced more pressure to produce because of another set of Bulls’ moves. Chicago traded star Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for young players. They also released Rondo and Wade.

So the Bulls went from competing to rebuilding, and that transition thrust Valentine from a sideline player to the face of the franchise — a least that was the plan. But, again, Valentine isn’t delivering. So far this season he’s at 9.1 ppg and 5 rpg with 38% from three.

In two years, Denzel has gone from college star to a face in the NBA crowd.

Melo Trimble

Melo Trimble is a 6’3” 185 lb. shooting guard. ESPN ranked him #7 at that position coming out of high school. But, unlike Valentine, Trimble burst onto the Big Ten scene soon after arriving at College Park.

Trimble averaged 16.2 ppg, 4 rpg, shooting 41% from three, right off the bat as a Maryland freshman. He led the Terrapins to the NCAA’s Round of 32.

Melo at Maryland (photo, Baltimore Sun)

Trimble’s explosive play turned heads. Going into his sophomore year, ESPN ranked him the 4th best collegiate player–right behind Valentine. He delivered, too, averaging 16.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, and 3 apg. He led Maryland to the NCAA’s Sweet Sixteen.

In Charm City, ‘Melo’ was a household name.

But Maryland went into the following season without a stable of other star players–Diamond Stone, Jake Layman, and Rasheed Sulaimon, to name three–who went on to the NBA. That meant Melo would have to be “the man.”

He performed okay in 2016-2017–14.8 ppg. 3.6 rpg, 4.9 apg, but it wasn’t “the same” Terrapins team. Maryland was eliminated–just like MSU–in the NCAA’s first round.

After an underachieving year, many scouts speculated that Melo would return for his senior year. The main reason–to develop into a no-brainer NBA pick. Instead, Melo declared for the NBA Draft.

Would the NBA take a chance? The initial answer was ‘no.’ Nobody drafted Melo. But that wasn’t the end of his story. Days after the draft, Melo signed with the 76ers (Summer League roster). Today Melo is playing for the Iowa Wolves in the NBA’s G League.

He still hopes to achieve that lifelong dream–of playing in the NBA.

Denzel and Melo

The two stories are thematic and telling.

Some players live up to the hype. LeBron and John Wall are examples. Others don’t.

One reason is that college and pro games aren’t the same. The other reason is that being in the NBA’s spotlight … well … ain’t meant for everyone.