Fab frosh Melo once led Syracuse to a national basketball championship. Fab Melo might do it again. But a different Fab Melo. Not the Melo. A new Melo. An actual Melo.
Brazilian-born basketball standout Fabricio de Melo — who goes by the name Fab Melo — this week orally committed to play at Syracuse in 2010. The 7-foot center from Sagemont High School in Florida chose Syracuse over UConn, Louisville, Miami and Florida.
“Everyone was calling him Fabio, Fabian and finally I just said, ‘You know what, I see Brazilian soccer players go by one name,’ ” Adam Ross, Melo’s high school coach, told . ” ‘We gotta find a shorter name for you, like Yao or something. How about Fab Melo?’ ”
Melo is the fifth-ranked prep player in the country and the No. 2 center, according to Rivals. But he’s currently the No. 2-ranked Melo.
It was Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony who, as a freshman in 2002-03, led the Orangemen to an NCAA Tournament title.
