Seth Trimble Embraces His Role as UNC’s Voice and Leader

Seth Trimble Embraces His Role as UNC’s Voice and Leader

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — For North Carolina basketball, this offseason marked the beginning of a new era. Ten new scholarship players joined the Tar Heels, but in the middle of all the fresh faces stands one steady presence: senior guard Seth Trimble.

Trimble has become more than just a returning player. He has become the team’s recruiter, host, motivator, and above all, its voice.

“It’s been a huge part of my job,” Trimble said. “I really took ownership of that role halfway through last season, and since then, I’ve embraced it. Coach Hubert Davis always reminds us what it means to wear this jersey, and I’ve tried to be an extension of him  making sure guys understand that pride goes beyond the court. It’s about who you represent every single day.”

The Lone Veteran

UNC enters the 2025–26 season with Trimble as its only four-year senior. Over his career in Chapel Hill, he has played multiple roles — starter, spark off the bench, defensive anchor, even scorer when needed. While others transferred, graduated, or left for the NBA, Trimble stayed.

He even briefly entered the transfer portal after his sophomore year before ultimately returning. Last season turned out to be his best yet, posting career highs in points (11.6), rebounds (5.0), assists (1.3), steals (1.4), and minutes (28.7). He started 18 of UNC’s 34 games.

Now, without longtime teammates like RJ Davis or Armando Bacot, Trimble has become the veteran leader of a team that desperately needs one.

“He’s an ambassador for this program, he really is,” Hubert Davis said. “He’s been through so much here, and this place matters to him. The way he leads, the way he carries himself  it gives us a foundation to succeed.”

Lessons From Last Year

The Tar Heels endured plenty of turbulence last season. They finished 23–14 and spent much of the year teetering on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Losing streaks, lineup changes, and inconsistency tested the locker room.

Trimble said those experiences shaped him into the leader he is now.

“You’ve got to bring it every single day,” he said. “Not just in games, but in practice, open gyms, everything. And if you’re not unified both on and off the court, you’re going to struggle. We had ups and downs last year, but we held each other accountable and stayed together. That’s what I try to pass on to the new guys.”

Setting the Tone

For new arrivals like 7-footer Henri Veesaar, Trimble’s leadership was obvious from the start.

“He’s great for the team,” Veesaar said. “If the energy is low, he’ll be the one clapping, talking, pushing everyone. He keeps us to a higher standard  like having another coach on the floor.”

Trimble sees it as his responsibility to set the tone in every practice. Whether it’s through communication, intensity, or simply reminding his teammates of what it means to be a Tar Heel, he is determined to carry the legacy of leadership forward.

A Senior’s Perspective

With more than 100 games under his belt, Trimble wants to be the kind of player Hubert Davis can rely on in any situation. He’s been the scorer, the defender, the role player, and the spark plug. Now he’s adding “leader” to that résumé.

“In this era, staying at one school for four years says a lot,” Trimble reflected. “I thought about leaving, but I couldn’t. This university means everything to me. I grew up a Carolina fan. My family grew up Carolina fans. The lessons I’ve learned here, the experiences, the people  you can’t get that anywhere else. I’m just so thankful for it.”

For a North Carolina team trying to rediscover its identity with an almost entirely new roster, Seth Trimble is more than just a senior guard. He is their voice, their bridge between past and present, and their standard-bearer heading into a crucial season.