Sagemont 7-footer Fab Melo puts in some work during a workout.
Fab Melo has one of the best stories amongst high school athletes in the country, let alone this year’s Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. In a nutshell, the 18-year-old Sagemont (Fla.) senior — Rivals.com’s No. 2 ranked center — didn’t move from his native Brazil until age 16 and didn’t start playing basketball until he was 14, giving up soccer. Now, he’s switched continents, sports and languages.
Currently, Melo is averaging 14 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks per game. Here is a link to my News-Leader feature story, but I reassembled some of the information and got in a few more details that couldn’t fit for a Q&A. Enjoy.
Allen Vaughan: You didn’t play basketball until you were 14. What did you think the first time you played?
Fab Melo: It was weird. Everybody plays soccer. They said, “You’re crazy. What are you playing.” But, I liked it. In my first week, I discovered I was pretty good.”
AV: Did having a soccer background make the transition easier?
FM: It’s helped a lot. I’m very quick for my size and I have good footwork. That all came from soccer.
AV: How long have you been 7-foot? How tall were you when you started playing basketball?
FM: I’ve been 7-foot since 17. (He’s 18 now.) I was 6-5 in eighth grade.
AV: How would you describe your game?
FM: I think I”m a good rebounder. I’m a good shooter from the (top of the) key and I make bank shots. I think I pass the ball really well. My strength is my (post) game.
AV: Do you have a favorite basketball player or one that you have tried to model your game after?
FM: I want to play like Dwight Howard. He’s a big man and I want play just like him. Or, maybe be better than him. You never know, right?
AV: Was it hard to learn English? How long did it take? Any tricks?
FM: I’ve been here a year and a half. I spoke nothing, no English. I think I’ve gotten better, don’t you? (laughs). (I’ve taken) extra class and I watch TV a lot. I watch a lot of Ultimate Fighting.
AV: Do you have a favorite fighter?
FM: Anderson Silva, of course. (Silva is Brazilian)
AV: How in the world does a kid from warm-weather Brazil end up with a scholarship to Syracuse? Do you have any idea how cold it is there?
FM: I had a chance to come to United States and I took it. When I came, I didn’t know about Syracuse, North Carolina about any of them. When I had an opportunity to go to Syracuse, I thought that would be great. When I called back to tell my mother I got a scholarship, she was happy, but then said, “What is Syracuse? I had to tell her.
AV: So, is it true you’ve never seen snow? Are you going to start a snowball fight when you get off the plane?
FM: (Laughs) I’ve never seen snow. I’m going to stay away from that snow. I like the beach.
Want to get in touch with Allen Vaughan? E-mail him at Allen@TagSGF.com. You can follow him on Twitter here or on Facebook here.
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