Melvin, a Baltimore Sun first-team All-Metro selection last spring, averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks per game as a senior, helping the undefeated Lakers to the Class 3A state championship. Melvin is now doing a post-grad year at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass., where he has teamed up again with former Lake Clifton point guard and Cecil Kirk alumnus Antonio Barton. Melvin’s summer on the circuit ensured his status as a legitimate high-major prospect.

“His summer was huge,” Lewis said. “He had the opportunity to [showcase his game] on the major stage, a major platform. That’s not anything against Lake Clifton -- that’s all of high school. You’re limited by where you can travel because of the rules and the number of games they can play because of the rules. So just having the ability to be seen at that [AAU] level was huge.”

Melvin agreed with his coach's assessment, noting that Lewis told him after his high school season that he would earn those scholarship offers playing for Cecil Kirk.

“When I went on the circuit for the summer, we had a really good team and I think I proved [myself],” Melvin said. “It was a great summer for me because I had gotten a lot more colleges looking at me, so it was great. Coach Anthony Lewis, he’s a great coach. He helped me get through everything. He’s just a great coach.”

Lewis, who also coached former UConn standout and current Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay, thinks Melvin is the perfect fit for the Huskies’ system.

“I think his style of play [fits well at UConn],” Lewis said. “He has almost freakish athleticism. He just has really, really good athleticism. And you couple that with the ability to get to the bucket, put it on the floor and knock down the mid-range shot, and he’s just a natural fit for an up-tempo type of team. He’s also long and can guard the perimeter, so he gets out. I see him as a 3-man, maybe a 3/4 in that set. He just has that ability. He’s worked very hard to expand his game beyond the mid-range. So I see him doing very well [at UConn].”

Melvin said he's enjoying his time at Notre Dame Prep. The Crusaders are 8-1 and he's one of the leading scorers thus far. He'll finish school in the spring and move to Storrs, Conn., in the summer.

“It’s kind of weird [being away from Baltimore] but I’ve got to get used to it,” Melvin said. “When I go to school next year, it’s going to be exciting. ... Jim Calhoun is a great coach. He’s put a lot of NBA players into the league. Rudy Gay, Ben Gordon, Josh Boone, all of them had great impacts on their teams. ... I’ll be coming in playing with Kemba Walker, a great point guard, and [hopefully getting] a lot of playing time.”

Baltimore Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam / Feb. 23, 2009