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Former Syracuse center Fab Melo tallies 14 blocks Saturday for D-League’s Maine Red Claws

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

Fab Melo’s college team might have been upset by unranked Temple Saturday, but he had himself a game in the NBA D-League when he tallied 15 points, 16 rebounds, and an astounding 14 blocks in a loss to the Erie BayHawks. The blocks total set a league record.

Melo decided to forgo his final two years of school and was drafted 22nd overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2012 draft. He was then sent down to the D-League, which has become more often utilized by NBA clubs in recent years. As you can see in highlights located here, it looks like Melo is beginning to develop more of an offensive game around the basket, with a solid assortment of post moves.

No. 3 Syracuse could have used Melo’s services on Saturday when they lost to a physical and scrappy Temple team at Madison Square Garden. Temple forward Anthony Lee had six offensive rebounds and an inside presence like Melo’s could have helped the cause.

Melo returns to the floor in the D-League on Wednesday against the Idaho Stampede, while Syracuse waits for Alcorn State on Dec. 29.

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