Fab Melo, the 22nd overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, has died at the age of 26, the Brazilian military police said Sunday.
An emergency call Saturday night brought police and paramedics to Melo’s house in Juiz de Fora, in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, according to a police sergeant who gave his name only as Couto. Couto said that when the police arrived, paramedics said Melo was dead, with no signs of violence.
Melo spent two seasons at Syracuse, where he averaged 4.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. During his sophomore season the Orange went 34-3 reached the Elite Eight. However, Melo, who was Big East Defensive Player of the Year, was suspended for the NCAA tournament for an academic issue. He had previously been suspended three games during the season.
A later NCAA investigation in the academic issue led to the school vacating all its wins from the season and self-imposing a ban on its NCAA tournament participation in 2015.
Melo declared for the NBA draft after the season and was selected by the Boston Celtics. He appeared in just six NBA games in the 2012-13 season. Melo was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2013 and later signed by the Dallas Mavericks, but did not appear in a game for either team.
"I'm very sorry to hear about the passing of Fab Melo," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said in a statement on Twitter. "He was a kind, genuine person who was committed to doing his best while he was at Syracuse. Our staff and his teammates were fortunate to have had the opportunity to know Fab. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
I'm very sorry to hear about the passing of Fab Melo. He was a kind, genuine person who was committed to doing his best while he was at ...
— Jim Boeheim (@therealboeheim) February 12, 2017
Syracuse. Our staff and his teammates were fortunate to have had the opportunity to know Fab. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
— Jim Boeheim (@therealboeheim) February 12, 2017
Contributing: The Associated Press
