Faced with a choice between two Big East schools featuring new coaches, Cleveland Melvin picked DePaul over Rutgers.
“I will be attending DePaul University next year,” the 6-foot-8 Melvin told ZAGSBLOG contributor Alex Kline.
Melvin, a Baltimore native who spent the year at Fitchburg (Mass.) Notre Dame, initially committed to UConn but decommitted in order to play more on the wing than in the post.
“I chose DePaul Unversity because I think it will be the perfect fit for me and my family,” he said. “I will have a great opportunity to come in as a freshman and play major minutes and/or [have] the opportunity of a starting position. Also, DePaul has a great educational program that can help me become a better and [more] successful student athlete on and off the court.”
Melvin visited both DePaul and Rutgers, and ultimately felt the Chicago campus was a better fit.
“When I had went to go visit DePaul it was great,” he said. “I mean the city of Chicago felt like a totally different atmosphere and I loved it. They have a great, big campus and I have met a lot of their players. They have treated me like I am their brother. It was just a great situation for me out there.”
New DePaul coach Oliver Purnell, who moved to the Big East from Clemson, made an impression on Melvin.
“My impressions with Coach Purnell are that he’s a great coach that I can look up to as a father figure,” Melvin said. “Coach Purnell along with the other coaching staff have a great relationship with me. That was one of the important parts of making my decision. I know that they will help develop my wing skills more to help me get to the next level.”
CARROLL STAYING AT RUTGERS
While new Rutgers coach Mike Rice may have missed out on Melvin, he did come to an agreement with 6-3 guard Austin Carroll of Brewster (N.H.) Academy to remain committed to the Scarlet Knights
“The meeting went well,” Carroll told Kline. “Yes, I am staying at Rutgers”
Carroll joins 6-8 forward Gilvydas Biruta in Rutgers 2010 class, but Rice still hopes to add a few more players.
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(Photo courtesy Baltimore Sun)
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