'Air Seth': How Seth Trimble learned how to dunk

WASHINGTON – Seth Trimble has been dunking for a long time. Albeit the hoop used to be mini — around six feet tall — but nevertheless, he began to posterize as a young child.

The timeline of his first memorable, full-sized dunk is contested between Trimble and his father, but they agree it happened sometime in middle school. According to Seth’s father, Trevor, the athleticism and bounce of his son is just par for the course.

“Oh that’s what he does,” Trevor said.

No. 4 UNC’s 92-67 ACC tournament quarterfinal victory over FSU illustrated the power of Trimble, the Tar Heels’ sixth man and resident dramatic dunker. 

With 10 minutes left in the second half, junior wing Harrison Ingram inbounded the ball and slung it to Trimble, who tore down the middle of the court. After stepping into the paint, just past the ACC logo, Trimble exploded with his arm extended towards the basket – Space Jam style. 

Trimble jumped up, the ball went down. Poster. A slam dunk over FSU’s Cam Corhen. 

Pan to the bench: Cormac Ryan is flexing in celebration, RJ Davis has his hands on his head in disbelief and Zayden High is yelling. 

“I knew as soon as he turned the corner with his foot,” Trevor told the Daily Tar Heel, “I knew Air Seth was getting ready to take off.”

Seth Trimble’s mother (left) and aunt (right) react to the sophomore guard’s monster slam.

UNC is up 72-48 over FSU. The Tar Heels are just having fun at this point. pic.twitter.com/3j7VKn5sBb

— Shelby Swanson (she/her) (@shelbymswanson) March 14, 2024

The highlight-worthy poster was just a sample of Trimble’s impact on both the FSU win and the Tar Heel's season. Trimble subbed into the quarterfinal around the 15-minute mark and spent 18 minutes darting around the court, lending both his defensive stylings and career-high-tying 12 points of offense to the team.  

Coming in third in ACC Sixth Man of the Year voting, Trimble has embraced his role, providing much-needed vigor and, when needed, air power to his teammates.

“He’s always vital for us and brings energy,” Trimble’s roommate and UNC big man Jalen Washington said. “So he brought a lot of aggressiveness on offense and [the] defensive end and I’m proud of him.” 

But really, Washington just loves to see Trimble go up. 

“I like when Seth dunks,” Washington said with a smile. “It makes me happy.” 

However, the lauded athleticism doesn’t always pan out, with mistimings and trepidation near the rim peppering some of Trimble’s past opportunities. Earlier in the game, for example, the springy sophomore was unable to find the basket. 

With 11 minutes left in the second half against FSU, Trimble had the ball on the fast break, hit a Euro step, missed his first dunk attempt and drew a foul – much to the chagrin of the UNC bench and coaching staff. 

As he was running back on defense, head coach Hubert Davis let him know his irritation. Davis told his point guard to “dunk it”.

Davis – "HD" as Trimble calls him – has been on the Wisconsin native for a while to dunk, since an early-season game against UC Riverside in November. 

Trimble responded with a “Yes sir."

On his next possession, well, he went for it. There’s an ESPN highlight to prove it. 

Ingram – just like Hubert Davis – had been “waiting for it”. 

And after it happened, Ingram wanted feedback. Specifically, a performance review from Trimble. 

“[Trimble] said [his dunk] was only a six. He said it was slight,” Ingram said. “He's just trying to be modest and humble. It's a 10. A 10 out of 10.” 

And while his jams are splashy, it's not Trimble’s bread and butter — it’s just a small appetizer in the full basketball menu he has. 

From spending the summer reworking his jump shot to practicing threes in the Smith Center after the Tar Heel victory over N.C. State at the beginning of March, Trimble is always trying to improve. 

His athleticism is something Hubert Davis needs on his bench and on the court. Trimble brings an energy and the ability to “eat up the ball." But at the end of the day, Trevor is glad his son is having fun and leaving it all out on the court.

And the dunk? Well, according to Trevor, that's just Seth. 

“It was truly Air Seth."

@gracegnugent

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com