Justin Melton

Justin Brian Melton (born April 7, 1987), popularly known as QuickMelt, Mouse, The Flying Minion, and Minion is a Filipino-American professional basketball player for the Magnolia Hotshots of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was drafted 13th overall by the San Mig Coffee Mixers in the 2013 PBA draft.[1]

Justin Melton
No. 2 – Magnolia Hotshots
PositionPoint guard
LeaguePBA
Personal information
Born (1987-04-07) April 7, 1987
Angeles, Philippines
NationalityFilipino / American
Listed height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Listed weight165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High schoolTabb (Yorktown, Virginia)
CollegeMount Olive (2005–2009)
PBA draft2013 Round: 2 / Pick: 13th overall
Selected by the San Mig Coffee Mixers
Playing career2010–present
Career history
2010AABI CLineSP Artur Nogueira
2012Westports Malaysia Dragons
2013–presentMagnolia Hotshots
Career highlights and awards

Early years

High School

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.[2]

College

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.[3]

He played more than 20 minutes a game in his college years.[4]

Playing overseas

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.[5]

PBA career

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.[6]

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.[7]

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

PBA career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

As of the end of 2020 season[8][9]

Season-by-season averages
Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013–14 San Mig Super Coffee 5914.9.384.306.8202.11.3.8.24.1
2014–15 Purefoods / Star 4115.6.396.308.6502.91.5.7.24.4
2015–16 Star 3321.2.319.263.7302.82.41.0.15.7
2016–17 Star 4921.2.370.371.7502.51.9.9.25.1
2017–18 Magnolia 4420.6.376.352.6673.52.21.2.15.5
2019 Magnolia 5220.6.288.277.6253.01.61.0.03.8
2020 Magnolia 1215.3.367.360.0001.3.81.0.02.6
Career 29018.7.354.317.7132.751.7.9.14.6

References
  1. COMPLETE 2013 PBA DRAFT RESULTS | Philippine Basketball Association PBA
  2. "Melton a Tabb alumni, dreams of building courts and houses after his PBA stint". Rappler.com. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  3. "Mount Olive alumni featured on Yahoo Sports!". Mount Olive College Official Website. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  4. "The quick rise of Justin 'QuickMelt' Melton". Jane Bracher, Rappler. February 2, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  5. "Gilas cadet member joining Malaysia ASEAN team". Reuben Tallado, Spin.ph. February 14, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  6. "San Mig's injury woes deepen as rookie Melton fractures left ring finger". Richard Dy, Spin.ph. November 21, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  7. "Melton, Guevarra declared co-champions of slam dunk contest". Renee Fopalan, GMA News. April 4, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  8. PBA-Online.net
  9. Real GM
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