2024-25 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Melendez, RJ
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Jersey Number 22
RJ Melendez
- Height:
- 6-7
- Weight:
- 210
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Arecibo, Puerto Rico
- High School/Previous School:
- Central Pointe Christian Academy - Fla./Georgia
Bio
HONORS & AWARDS
2024-25 SEC Academic Honor Roll • Mississippi State
CAREER
Melendez played in 124 games and registered 55 starts between Illinois (2021-22, 2022-23), Georgia (2023-24) and Mississippi State (2024-25) … Competed in three NCAA Tournaments while at State and Illinois in addition to a NIT Final Four for Georgia … Made 54 of his 55 starts over the last three seasons … Secured 645 of his 921 points (70.0 percent), 296 of his 445 rebounds (66.5 percent), 58 of his 101 assists (57.4 percent) and 72 of his 100 steals (72.0 percent) over his two SEC seasons at State and Georgia … Dialed up career shooting marks of 43.8 percent from the floor (322-of-735), 29.8 percent from three-point territory (101-of-339) and 81.9 percent at the free throw line (176-of-215) … Provided 45 outings of 10+ points where his teams combined for a 27-18 record … Secured 28 outings with multiple steals, 27 performances hitting multiple three’s, 24 efforts of multiple assists and tallied four double-doubles.
2024-25 • SENIOR
Melendez compiled 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.9 steals per game … One of seven players to see action in all of State’s 34 games … Made 29 starts fueled by 27 straight games to close the season (Dec. 4-March 21) … Chipped in double figures in 17 games which was tied for third on the team with Claudell Harris Jr. and Riley Kugel … 11 of the 17 outings were against SEC opponents … Secured 10 games with multiple steals and nine outings where he hit on multiple three’s.
BEST GAMES • STATE • 2024-25
Melendez’s top non-conference performances were 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting against McNeese (Dec. 14) followed by 15 points and five rebounds at SMU (Nov. 22) … Turned in double figures during five of his first SEC outings (Jan. 4-21) … Posted a SEC career-high 19 points to go along with seven rebounds and two steals at Vanderbilt (Jan. 7) … Lone double-double was 15 points and 10 rebounds at No. 1 Auburn (Jan. 14) … Registered 12 points, eight rebounds and key block shot in transition which resulted in Riley Kugel’s go-ahead three-pointer in overtime win over No. 21 Ole Miss (Jan. 18) … Wrapped season on a strong note with 10+ points in six of last 10 appearances (Feb. 15-March 21) … Started run with 17 points on 7-of-11 from the floor during road victory over No. 19 Ole Miss (Feb. 15) … Provided solid all-around effort of 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals versus Texas (March 4) … Added 12 points against No. 21 Missouri (March 13) at SEC Tournament and six points versus Baylor (March 21) at NCAA Tournament.
BEFORE STATE • GEORGIA
2023-24: Melendez collected 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game over his 36 appearances … Started the team’s first five games (Nov. 6-19) and back-to-back outings during SEC play (Jan. 31-Feb. 3) … Was 45.1 percent from the floor (125-of-277), 30.4 percent on three-pointers (35-of-115) and 88.2 percent at the foul line (60-of-68) … Turned in 10+ points on 18 occasions, tied for second-most on the team.
BEST GAMES • GEORGIA
2023-24: Melendez notched 12 points against Oregon (Nov. 6) at the Naismith Hall of Fame series during season opener … Registered a solid all-around effort with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals versus Providence (Nov. 19) at Baha Mar Bahamas Championship … Tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds at Florida State (Nov. 29) during ACC/SEC Challenge … Non-conference season’s best of 18 points apiece against Mercer (Dec. 1) and versus Mount St. Mary’s (Dec. 20) … Produced 10-plus points in six of first eight SEC outings (Jan. 6-31) … Tallied 13 points with five rebounds versus No. 5 Tennessee (Jan. 13) … Exploded for a career-high 35 points on 13-of-19 shooting fueled by 6 treys and added a career-best 5 steals at Florida (Jan. 27) … The 35 points are believed to be the most bench points scored by UGA player during a game … Pumped home 15 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of season at No. 24 Alabama (Jan. 31) …. Chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds against Ole Miss (March 5) … Came away with 13 points versus Florida (March 14) and 10 points versus Missouri (March 13) at SEC Tournament … Managed 14 points and four steals against Xavier (March 19) during NIT Round of 32.
BEFORE STATE • ILLINOIS • 2021-22 • 2022-23
Melendez provided 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore … Started 11 of the team’s first 12 games (Nov. 7-Dec. 22) and seven of the team’s final eight games (Feb. 18-March 16) … Hit on 37.6 percent from the field (64-of-170), 26.4 percent on triples (24-of-91) and 83.3 percent at the charity stripe (40-of-48) … Secured 3.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per game with 21 of his 22 appearances coming off the bench during his freshmen season … Sank 56.9 percent of his field goal attempts (29-of-51) and 85.0 percent at the free throw line (17-of-20).
BEST GAMES • ILLINOIS
2022-23: Melendez posted three straight games in double figures: season-high 17 points against Lindenwood (Nov. 25), 15 points versus Syracuse (Nov. 29) in ACC/Big Ten Challenge and 13 points at No. 22 Maryland (Dec. 2) during Big 10 opener … Notched 10-point efforts at Nebraska (Jan. 10) and against Indiana (Jan. 19) off the bench … Amassed first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds versus Minnesota (Feb. 20) … Provided 12 points in a double overtime win over Michigan (March 2) … Tallied a solid all-around effort of 10 points, six rebounds and three assists versus Arkansas (March 16) at NCAA Tournament.
2021-22: Melendez scored six points in his first career start came against Notre Dame (Nov. 29) … Totaled eight points at No. 8 Purdue (Feb. 8) … Both of his efforts of 10-plus points came in Big Ten action where he converted 11-of-11 at the foul line … Season’s best 14 points coupled with six rebounds and two steals versus Northwestern (Feb. 13) … Tacked on 10 points at Rutgers (Feb. 16) … Recorded nine points on 4-of-5 shooting against No. 15 Houston (March 20) in NCAA Tournament Round of 32.
HIGH SCHOOL
Melendez prepped at Central Pointe Christian Academy (CPCA) located in Kissimmee, Florida where he was coached by Richie Dalmau … Rated as the nation’s No. 56 prospect by ESPN.com for the Class of 2021 … Amassed a school-record 2,006 points over his high school career at CPCA … Named 2020-21 Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) Player of the Year and garnered All-State First-Team accolades as a senior … Posted 24.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.3 blocks and 2.2 steals per game where team registered a 31-7 record … Averaged 18.6 points per game as a junior … Program won its first-ever SIAA state title with Melendez as the state tournament’s most valuable player.
INTERNATIONAL
Melendez represented his native Puerto Rico as a silver medalist at the 2019 U17 Centrobasket Championships in the Dominican Republic … Secured 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest over five games which was highlighted by a 21-point performance against El Salvador.
PERSONAL
Born on December 3, 2002 … Majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies.
2024-25 SEC Academic Honor Roll • Mississippi State
CAREER
Melendez played in 124 games and registered 55 starts between Illinois (2021-22, 2022-23), Georgia (2023-24) and Mississippi State (2024-25) … Competed in three NCAA Tournaments while at State and Illinois in addition to a NIT Final Four for Georgia … Made 54 of his 55 starts over the last three seasons … Secured 645 of his 921 points (70.0 percent), 296 of his 445 rebounds (66.5 percent), 58 of his 101 assists (57.4 percent) and 72 of his 100 steals (72.0 percent) over his two SEC seasons at State and Georgia … Dialed up career shooting marks of 43.8 percent from the floor (322-of-735), 29.8 percent from three-point territory (101-of-339) and 81.9 percent at the free throw line (176-of-215) … Provided 45 outings of 10+ points where his teams combined for a 27-18 record … Secured 28 outings with multiple steals, 27 performances hitting multiple three’s, 24 efforts of multiple assists and tallied four double-doubles.
2024-25 • SENIOR
Melendez compiled 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.9 steals per game … One of seven players to see action in all of State’s 34 games … Made 29 starts fueled by 27 straight games to close the season (Dec. 4-March 21) … Chipped in double figures in 17 games which was tied for third on the team with Claudell Harris Jr. and Riley Kugel … 11 of the 17 outings were against SEC opponents … Secured 10 games with multiple steals and nine outings where he hit on multiple three’s.
BEST GAMES • STATE • 2024-25
Melendez’s top non-conference performances were 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting against McNeese (Dec. 14) followed by 15 points and five rebounds at SMU (Nov. 22) … Turned in double figures during five of his first SEC outings (Jan. 4-21) … Posted a SEC career-high 19 points to go along with seven rebounds and two steals at Vanderbilt (Jan. 7) … Lone double-double was 15 points and 10 rebounds at No. 1 Auburn (Jan. 14) … Registered 12 points, eight rebounds and key block shot in transition which resulted in Riley Kugel’s go-ahead three-pointer in overtime win over No. 21 Ole Miss (Jan. 18) … Wrapped season on a strong note with 10+ points in six of last 10 appearances (Feb. 15-March 21) … Started run with 17 points on 7-of-11 from the floor during road victory over No. 19 Ole Miss (Feb. 15) … Provided solid all-around effort of 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals versus Texas (March 4) … Added 12 points against No. 21 Missouri (March 13) at SEC Tournament and six points versus Baylor (March 21) at NCAA Tournament.
BEFORE STATE • GEORGIA
2023-24: Melendez collected 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game over his 36 appearances … Started the team’s first five games (Nov. 6-19) and back-to-back outings during SEC play (Jan. 31-Feb. 3) … Was 45.1 percent from the floor (125-of-277), 30.4 percent on three-pointers (35-of-115) and 88.2 percent at the foul line (60-of-68) … Turned in 10+ points on 18 occasions, tied for second-most on the team.
BEST GAMES • GEORGIA
2023-24: Melendez notched 12 points against Oregon (Nov. 6) at the Naismith Hall of Fame series during season opener … Registered a solid all-around effort with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals versus Providence (Nov. 19) at Baha Mar Bahamas Championship … Tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds at Florida State (Nov. 29) during ACC/SEC Challenge … Non-conference season’s best of 18 points apiece against Mercer (Dec. 1) and versus Mount St. Mary’s (Dec. 20) … Produced 10-plus points in six of first eight SEC outings (Jan. 6-31) … Tallied 13 points with five rebounds versus No. 5 Tennessee (Jan. 13) … Exploded for a career-high 35 points on 13-of-19 shooting fueled by 6 treys and added a career-best 5 steals at Florida (Jan. 27) … The 35 points are believed to be the most bench points scored by UGA player during a game … Pumped home 15 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of season at No. 24 Alabama (Jan. 31) …. Chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds against Ole Miss (March 5) … Came away with 13 points versus Florida (March 14) and 10 points versus Missouri (March 13) at SEC Tournament … Managed 14 points and four steals against Xavier (March 19) during NIT Round of 32.
BEFORE STATE • ILLINOIS • 2021-22 • 2022-23
Melendez provided 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore … Started 11 of the team’s first 12 games (Nov. 7-Dec. 22) and seven of the team’s final eight games (Feb. 18-March 16) … Hit on 37.6 percent from the field (64-of-170), 26.4 percent on triples (24-of-91) and 83.3 percent at the charity stripe (40-of-48) … Secured 3.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per game with 21 of his 22 appearances coming off the bench during his freshmen season … Sank 56.9 percent of his field goal attempts (29-of-51) and 85.0 percent at the free throw line (17-of-20).
BEST GAMES • ILLINOIS
2022-23: Melendez posted three straight games in double figures: season-high 17 points against Lindenwood (Nov. 25), 15 points versus Syracuse (Nov. 29) in ACC/Big Ten Challenge and 13 points at No. 22 Maryland (Dec. 2) during Big 10 opener … Notched 10-point efforts at Nebraska (Jan. 10) and against Indiana (Jan. 19) off the bench … Amassed first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds versus Minnesota (Feb. 20) … Provided 12 points in a double overtime win over Michigan (March 2) … Tallied a solid all-around effort of 10 points, six rebounds and three assists versus Arkansas (March 16) at NCAA Tournament.
2021-22: Melendez scored six points in his first career start came against Notre Dame (Nov. 29) … Totaled eight points at No. 8 Purdue (Feb. 8) … Both of his efforts of 10-plus points came in Big Ten action where he converted 11-of-11 at the foul line … Season’s best 14 points coupled with six rebounds and two steals versus Northwestern (Feb. 13) … Tacked on 10 points at Rutgers (Feb. 16) … Recorded nine points on 4-of-5 shooting against No. 15 Houston (March 20) in NCAA Tournament Round of 32.
HIGH SCHOOL
Melendez prepped at Central Pointe Christian Academy (CPCA) located in Kissimmee, Florida where he was coached by Richie Dalmau … Rated as the nation’s No. 56 prospect by ESPN.com for the Class of 2021 … Amassed a school-record 2,006 points over his high school career at CPCA … Named 2020-21 Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) Player of the Year and garnered All-State First-Team accolades as a senior … Posted 24.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.3 blocks and 2.2 steals per game where team registered a 31-7 record … Averaged 18.6 points per game as a junior … Program won its first-ever SIAA state title with Melendez as the state tournament’s most valuable player.
INTERNATIONAL
Melendez represented his native Puerto Rico as a silver medalist at the 2019 U17 Centrobasket Championships in the Dominican Republic … Secured 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest over five games which was highlighted by a 21-point performance against El Salvador.
PERSONAL
Born on December 3, 2002 … Majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies.
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