A Bryan Trimble transformation? A look at the sophomore guard’s workout video

It is just over two months until the St. John’s Red Storm opens with an exhibition against Maryville University of St. Louis at Carnesecca Arena.

Until then, St. John’s hoops fans eagerly await the determination on Mustapha Heron’s hardship waiver, curiously following the recruiting news, and impatiently watch workout videos shared by the Red Storm basketball players.

And since we have nothing better to do but to speculate on which players might come back with something new in their game, let’s take a peek and what we saw earlier this week, where HoopFocus posted a video of a Bryan Trimble Jr. workout.

Trimble showed plenty in the video Red Storm fans will be thrilled to see in the coming season.

Catching and Shooting from Deep

Trimble shot 85% of his field goal attempts from beyond the three-point arc last season, so seeing him working on shooting drills should be of no surprise. However, what will need to improve is Trimble’s connection rate.

Trimble connected on 32% of his three-point attempts last season, lower than the 34% St. John’s as a whole shot from deep last season.

Despite the underwhelming shooting percentage for the entire season, Trimble did shoot 36% against the Big East, going 18 for 50. Had Trimble been able to sustain the 36% three-point field goal percentage for the entirety of the season, he would have ranked ninth in the Big East in the category.

Given Shamorie Ponds’s affinity for getting to the basket, it will be necessary for players like Trimble to both take more open three-point attempts and convert them at a better rate for St. John’s to have sustainable success.

Because Trimble’s offensive production operated from the outside-in, his three-point field goal percentage will be a metric by which is success will be measured.

Finishing at the Basket

Most of the first minute of Trimble’s workout video show him getting to and finishing at the basket, something he did not do with any regularity last season.

Trimble only shot 14 two-point field goal attempts over the 32 games he played last season. Given the scouting report on him, Trimble can take advantage of defenses looking to stop his outside shot by going to the basket — which is a way he can make a strong sophomore leap.

Additionally, driving could help Trimble get to the free-throw line more often. Bryan is already a good free-throw shooter, as he shot 86% from the free-throw line last season, albeit in only 7 attempts.

St. John’s ranked 9th in the Big East in made free throws last season and 8th in free throws attempted, so it is fair to say everyone probably needs to get to the line more.

Creating off the Dribble

Trimble finished last season with only 13 assists, so creating off the dribble is a necessary next step if Trimble is to become a more complete player. With Clark graduating after this season and Ponds projected to be drafted next season, Trimble will need to be ready to shoulder a larger portion of the scoring responsibilities in the 2019-2020 season.

While we did not get to see Trimble creating for others in his workout video, he did show improvements in his overall ball-handing ability.

In additions to creating shots for himself, Trimble can potentially create open shots for others. Getting to the basket draws in the defense creating opportunities on the perimeter.

Conclusion

Last season, Trimble was thrust into a more demanding role after the Marcus Lovett injury. The Red Storm faithful had the opportunity to watch Trimble grow from a player who only played 5 minutes against Nebraska and 4 minutes against Missouri into a shooter who went off for 19 points at Marquette.

Here’s to hoping for Trimble’s continued growth and for the college basketball season to hurry up and get here already.