Justin Melton Explained

Justin Melton
League:MPBL
Nationality:Filipino / American
Birth Date:April 7, 1987
Birth Place:Angeles City, Philippines
Height Ft:5
Height In:9
Weight Lbs:165
High School:Tabb (Yorktown, Virginia)
College:Mount Olive (2005–2009)
Draft Year Pba:2013
Draft Round Pba:2
Draft Pick Pba:13
Draft Team Pba:San Mig Coffee Mixers
Career Start:2010
Career End:2023[1]
Career Position:Point guard
Years1:2010
Team1:AABI CLineSP Artur Nogueira
Years2:2012
Team2:Westports Malaysia Dragons
Years3:2013–2021
Team3:Magnolia Hotshots
Years4:2021
Team4:Terrafirma Dyip
Years5:2022
Team5:Blackwater Bossing
Years6:2024
Team6:Mindoro Tamaraws
Highlights:

Justin Brian Melton (born April 7, 1987), popularly known as QuickMelt, Mouse, The Flying Minion, and Minion, is a Filipino-American former professional basketball player. He was drafted 13th overall by the San Mig Coffee Mixers in the 2013 PBA draft.[2]

Early career

Justin Melton played high school basketball at Tabb High School in Yorktown, Virginia. After playing one year of junior varsity basketball, Melton played three years of varsity basketball, capturing Bay Rivers District 1st Team Honors in his junior and senior seasons. In his senior season, he was awarded Bay Rivers District "Player of the Year," along with 1st Team All-Region and All-State honors. Melton also excelled in track and field, placing 2nd in the Virginia High School AA State Track Meet in the triple jump event with a distance of 45 feet 6 inches.[3]

Melton studied and played basketball on a full scholarship at Mount Olive College, in Mount Olive, North Carolina where he was very successful. Justin was a very tough player in college and was the leader and motor of the team for the last 3 seasons. He is extremely athletic can finish strong at the rim. He shot over 40 percent from the 3-point line in his senior year. Melton possessed above-average athleticism for a person of his size and was very quick. He is also featured on his college's official website because of being featured on a Yahoo! Sports article.[4]

He played more than 20 minutes a game in his college years.[5]

Professional career

Artur Nogueira – SP (Clinesp Artur Nogueira)

He played in Brazil for the AABI CLineSP Artur Nogueira, made great games being fundamental for the conquest of the Paulista championship, but the team went bankrupt and he was waived.

ABL

He played for Malaysia in the ASEAN Basketball League, as an import.[6]

PBA

Melton was picked 13th overall by the Mixers in the 2013 PBA draft. Melton was noticed as one of the most athletic players in his draft class, and he showcased that athleticism very fast with his teammates. Though measured at just 5-foot-9 in socks, Melton finished with several rim-rattling slams during practice. His energy was also on display on defense.Melton struggled in his first conference, the 2013–14 PBA Philippine Cup, due to injuries on the finger, but bounced back and even won the Best Player of the Game honors.[7]

He shocked the whole PBA, by winning the 2014 PBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest held in the Mall of Asia Arena. He and Rey Guevarra had a head-to-head matchup on that battle, they have been tied for three rounds on the championship round, at last, they have been declared co-champions, because the process is going on and on.[8]

He has a high vertical leap, which allows him to jump very high despite his 5'9" height. Melton is also a decent outside shooter, who shot at 67% in his first season.

On November 25, 2021, Melton, along with Kyle Pascual, was traded to the Terrafirma Dyip for James Laput.[9]

On December 24, 2021, after only playing three games for the Dyip, Melton was traded to the Blackwater Bossing for Ed Daquioag.[10] Melton became an unrestricted free agent on February 1, 2023.[11] Shortly after, he retired from professional basketball.[12]

PBA career statistics

[13] [14]

Season-by-season averages

|-| align=left | | align=left | San Mig Super Coffee| 59 || 14.9 || .384 || .306 || .820 || 2.1 || 1.3 || .8 || .2 || 4.1|-| align=left | | align=left | Purefoods / Star| 41 || 15.6 || .396 || .308 || .650 || 2.9 || 1.5 || .7 || .2 || 4.4|-| align=left | | align=left | Star| 33 || 21.2 || .319 || .263 || .730 || 2.8 || 2.4 || 1.0 || .1 || 5.7|-| align=left | | align=left | Star| 49 || 21.2 || .370 || .371 || .750 || 2.5 || 1.9 || .9 || .2 || 5.1|-| align=left | | align=left | Magnolia| 44 || 20.6 || .376 || .352 || .667 || 3.5 || 2.2 || 1.2 || .1 || 5.5|-| align=left | | align=left | Magnolia| 52 || 20.6 || .288 || .277 || .625 || 3.0 || 1.6 || 1.0 || .0 || 3.8|-| align=left | | align=left | Magnolia| 12 || 15.3 || .367 || .360 || .000 || 1.3 || .8 || 1.0 || .0 || 2.6|-| align=left rowspan=3| | align=left | Magnolia| rowspan=3|20 || rowspan=3|11.0 || rowspan=3|.233 || rowspan=3|.212 || rowspan=3|— || rowspan=3|1.3 || rowspan=3|1.0 || rowspan=3|.7 || rowspan=3|.0 || rowspan=3|1.4|-| align=left | Terrafirma|-| align=left | Blackwater|-| align=left | | align=left | Blackwater| 18 || 16.4 || .278 || .242 || — || 2.3 || 1.8 || 1.1 || .0 || 2.1|-class=sortbottom| align=center colspan=2 | Career| 328 || 18.1 || .347 || .310 || .713 || 2.6 || 1.7 || .9 || .1 || 4.2

Personal life

Melton is the son of Donnie Melton, an American, and Cecilia Fortes, a Filipino.[12] After retirement, he moved to İzmir, Turkey.[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: March 26, 2024 . Justin Melton sheds light on reason behind retirement . fastbreak.com.ph . March 26, 2024 .
  2. http://pba.inquirer.net/33331/complete-2013-pba-draft-results Complete 2013 PBA Draft Results – Philippine Basketball Association
  3. Web site: Melton a Tabb alumni, dreams of building courts and houses after his PBA stint. Rappler.com. 9 November 2013 . November 9, 2013.
  4. Web site: Mount Olive alumni featured on Yahoo Sports!. Mount Olive College Official Website. October 28, 2013.
  5. News: The quick rise of Justin 'QuickMelt' Melton . . February 2, 2014 . May 13, 2015.
  6. News: Gilas cadet member joining Malaysia ASEAN team. Reuben Tallado, Spin.ph . February 14, 2014 . May 13, 2015 .
  7. News: San Mig's injury woes deepen as rookie Melton fractures left ring finger. Richard Dy, Spin.ph. November 21, 2013 . May 13, 2015 .
  8. News: Melton, Guevarra declared co-champions of slam dunk contest. Renee Fopalan, GMA News. April 4, 2014 . May 13, 2015 .
  9. News: Magnolia deals Melton, Pascual to Terrafirma for Laput . PBA.ph . November 25, 2021 . November 25, 2021.
  10. News: Terrafirma deals newly acquired Melton to Bossing for Daquioag . PBA.ph . December 24, 2021 . December 24, 2021.
  11. Web site: Ramos. Gerry. Justin Melton now a free agent after failing to get Blackwater extension. Spin.ph. February 9, 2023. February 9, 2023.
  12. Web site: Gaa. Wendell. PBA player Justin Melton examines options after retirement. thefilam.net. March 14, 2023. October 20, 2023.
  13. https://web.archive.org/web/20161104010812/http://www.pba-online.net/profile/Justin-Melton/535/
  14. https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Justin-Melton/Summary/62649#International