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Fab Melo tries to shed light on academic issues he faced at Syracuse

Fab Melo

Syracuse’s Fab Melo (51), of Brazil, shoots over Cincinnati’s Justin Jackson (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big East Conference tournament in New York, Friday, March 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

AP

There were a lot of questions that were left unanswered after Syracuse’s Fab Melo was ruled academically ineligible for the NCAA tournament this past season.

After a workout with the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, he tried to clear some things up, though much still remains unknown.

''It was academic,’' Melo told the Associated Press in Indianapolis. ''They ask, I explain (what) happened - that I came from another country and until four years ago didn’t even speak English.’'

Melo is typically an amiable personality, open to speaking with the media, though the language barrier is difficult with some of the finer points, something that many people work to overcome when learning a language.

His NCAA tournament suspension was the second such sanction placed on him this past season, as he missed time during the middle of the year for the same reason.

''It was very difficult not to be able to play,’' he said. ''But that’s something I couldn’t do anything about.’'

After winning Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Melo now looks to the NBA where, if he can harness his skills at 7-feet, 255 pounds, he could be a contributor at the NBA level.

As the Associated Press points out, Melo has only been playing basketball for six years, which means is still malleable, able to be molded by NBA personnel.

Draft Express has Melo slotted to go in the early 20s of the NBA draft.

Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_