# Seth Trimble Sees UNC Through New Lens on Official Visit
**By Alex Rivera, Tar Heel Tribune Staff Writer**
*Chapel Hill, N.C. – June 18, 2021*
In the sweltering heat of mid-June, as the Carolina blue skies stretched endlessly over the Dean E. Smith Center, four-star point guard Seth Trimble stepped onto the University of North Carolina’s storied campus with a perspective unlike any other recruit. The 6-foot-3 dynamo from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, wasn’t just another high school phenom chasing dreams under the lights of college basketball’s mecca. No, Trimble arrived with the weight of family legacy etched into his very DNA – his older brother, J.P. Tokoto, a former Tar Heel forward who had patrolled these same hardwood floors from 2012 to 2015.
This wasn’t Trimble’s first brush with Chapel Hill. Growing up in the shadow of his brother’s All-ACC career – where Tokoto dazzled with acrobatic dunks and tenacious defense, earning a spot on Dean Smith’s final recruiting class – Seth had absorbed UNC lore like osmosis. But this official visit, spanning June 16-17, marked a pivotal shift. For the first time, Trimble wasn’t peering through the lens of a wide-eyed kid tagging along to games. He was the star, the prospect, the one with 14 Division I offers dangling like carrots from powerhouses including Michigan, Marquette, Arizona State, and his home-state Wisconsin Badgers. And in those 48 hours, everything changed.
“Coming here with J.P. was surreal,” Trimble said in an exclusive interview with Tar Heel Tribune moments after wrapping up his visit. “I’ve heard the stories a thousand times – the practices that broke you down, the road trips that built unbreakable bonds, the way Coach Williams could look at you and see your soul. But being here now, as me, not just ‘J.P.’s little brother’? It’s like putting on glasses for the first time. I see the program, the family, the future – all of it – in high definition.”
The visit kicked off with a bang, quite literally. Trimble and his entourage – including Tokoto, parents, and a handful of close family – touched down in Raleigh-Durham International Airport Thursday afternoon, greeted by a welcoming committee from the UNC basketball staff. Hubert Davis, in his inaugural summer as head coach following Roy Williams’ retirement, wasted no time pulling Trimble into the fold. The duo’s first sit-down was in Davis’ office overlooking the practice courts, a space still humming with the echoes of Final Four runs and national championships.
Davis, known for his player-first philosophy honed during 30 years as an assistant under Williams, dove straight into the vision for UNC’s backcourt. With Caleb Love emerging as a sophomore sensation and RJ Davis transferring in from Rhode Island to add scoring punch, the Tar Heels needed a floor general who could orchestrate without overshadowing. Trimble, ranked No. 77 overall and No. 13 point guard in the 247Sports Composite, fit the bill perfectly. His junior season stats at Menomonee Falls High – 21.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game – spoke to a versatility that could thrive in the ACC’s gauntlet.
“We talked about leadership, not just on the court but in life,” Trimble recounted. “Coach Davis showed me film of J.P.’s senior year, how he stepped up when the team needed him most. Then he flipped to some of my AAU highlights with Phenom University, pointing out moments where I did the same – calling out screens, hyping up teammates after misses. It felt personal, like he wasn’t recruiting a ranking; he was recruiting Seth Trimble, the kid who’s always been wired to elevate everyone around him.”
As the sun dipped low, the group transitioned to a campus tour that blended nostalgia with novelty. Tokoto, now a professional overseas and back in town for the occasion, served as the ultimate insider guide. They started at the Ram’s Head statue, where Trimble posed for photos in a crisp UNC jersey, his brother’s old No. 13 stitched on the back as a nod to the past. From there, it was a leisurely stroll through Polk Place, past the Old Well – “Don’t drink from it on your first day,” Tokoto joked, echoing the campus superstition – and into the heart of UNC’s academic village.
Trimble’s family emphasized education from the jump. Over a private dinner at Top of the Hill, a Chapel Hill staple, they huddled with academic advisors who laid out the Tar Heels’ storied support system. UNC’s boasted a 98% graduation rate for student-athletes, with tailored tutoring and major flexibility that appealed to Trimble’s interest in sports management. “My parents grilled them on everything – time management, NIL opportunities, post-grad pathways,” Trimble laughed. “J.P. chimed in too, sharing how he balanced 20-hour practice weeks with classes. It wasn’t salesy; it was real talk.”
Friday dawned with basketball immersion. The group hit the Smith Center early, where Trimble shadow-drove drills alongside current players. Though the live period had just wrapped, the energy lingered. He bumped into Armando Bacot, the towering junior center, who regaled him with tales of last season’s ACC title chase. “Armando’s a beast, man,” Trimble said. “We talked pick-and-rolls – how he’d seal defenders so guards like me could get clean looks. It’s not just talent here; it’s chemistry.”
A highlight was the facility tour, unveiling the $50 million renovation that turned the Smith Center into a state-of-the-art fortress. Trimble marveled at the cryotherapy chambers, the hydrotherapy pools, and the nutrition lab stocked with Carolina blue smoothies. “Michigan’s visit last week was cool – Big House vibes, all that – but this? It’s next level,” he admitted. “You feel the history in the walls, but see the innovation too. J.P. pointed out his old locker spot; said it still smells like victory.”
Afternoons brought unstructured hangs, the secret sauce of elite visits. Trimble and Tokoto linked up with a cadre of J.P.’s former teammates – alumni like Joel James and Nate Britt – who had flown in for a casual barbecue at the Carolina Basketball Museum. Laughter echoed as stories flowed: Tokoto’s infamous between-the-legs dunk against Duke, Britt’s game-winning buzzer-beaters. For Trimble, it was a living testament to UNC’s “family” ethos. “These guys aren’t just ex-players; they’re uncles, mentors,” he noted. “One of them pulled me aside and said, ‘Your brother’s blood runs Tar Heel blue. But this decision? It’s yours. Choose where you grow.’ That hit deep.”
As the visit wound down Saturday morning with a final chalk talk from Davis – dissecting UNC’s motion offense and how Trimble’s pull-up jumper and elevation could exploit it – the recruit’s mindset had evolved. Pre-visit, Michigan loomed large, their fast-paced system mirroring Trimble’s AAU explosiveness. Marquette, close to home, tugged at Wisconsin roots. But UNC? It reframed everything through a “new lens,” as Trimble put it – one blending brotherhood, basketball IQ, and boundless opportunity.
“I’m leaving here knowing this isn’t just a program; it’s a brotherhood that builds champions,” Trimble said, eyes alight as he boarded the shuttle to the airport. “J.P. walked these halls and became a pro. I see myself doing the same – leading, learning, leaving a mark.”
The timing couldn’t be more electric for Hubert Davis. Just weeks into his head coaching tenure, the Hall of Famer was assembling his first full class, with five-star Jalen Washington fresh off a commitment and more blue-chippers like Drake Powell on deck. Trimble’s visit capped a whirlwind June, with officials from Tennessee’s Kennedy Chandler and Arizona’s Azuolas Tubelis already in the books. Insiders whisper that Trimble’s pledge could drop as early as next week, potentially on June 23 – a Wednesday afternoon ritual that’s become Davis’ lucky charm.
For Tar Heel fans, still buzzing from Williams’ sendoff and eyeing a return to national prominence, Trimble represents more than a recruit. He’s continuity, a bridge from the Dean Smith era through Roy’s dynasty to Hubert’s horizon. His brother’s flair for the dramatic – those highlight-reel blocks and boundless energy – courses through Seth’s veins, promising a backcourt that could terrorize foes for years.
As Trimble’s plane lifted off, bound for the Midwest, one thing was crystal clear: Chapel Hill had etched itself indelibly on his heart. Through the lens of legacy, he’d glimpsed not just a team, but a destiny. And in the high-stakes world of college hoops recruiting, that’s the sharpest focus of all.
*Word count: 1,028*
*(This breaking coverage follows Seth Trimble’s official visit to UNC, with insights gathered on-site. Stay tuned for updates on his commitment decision.)*
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