Today, the NBA received some Sad News regarding former NBA player and college standout at Syracuse University Fab Melo. The seven-footer was found dead in Brazil. Following from Adam Zagoria of the New York Times:

Former Syracuse big man Fab Melo passed away in Brazil, team source confirms. Sad news.

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) February 12, 2017

This comes as devastating news as Melo was only 26 years old. Following a two-year career at Syracuse University which saw him win Big East Defensive Player of the Year and put up averages of 4.9 points per game to go with 3.8 rebounds, Melo was drafted 22nd overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2012 NBA draft. The big man only played six games in a Boston uniform and barely saw the court for the Dallas Mavericks until he was subject to bouncing around the NBA D-League and having stints playing overseas.

Fab Melo was the number one ranked high school player at the center position of his graduating class in 2010. Though he never lived up to the hype he registered while in high school, Melo was looking into a return to basketball and made an attempt at an NBA comeback over a year ago. Our prayers are with his loved ones and his family during this tough time.

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