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NEW YORK, NY--After a long and drawn out process Bishop Verot High School senior guard Brennen Melvin has finally found his fit with Fordham University located in New York City, New York, signing a National Letter of Intent on Monday to attend the school starting in the fall semester of 2009 according to Verot head coach Matt Herting. "The Jesuit University of New York," as its slogan states, competes in the Atlantic-10 Conference which would be referred to as a "mid-major" level conference in basketball recruiting terms and was ranked 6th best conference in the country in 2009.
Going into and during Melvin's senior season with the Vikings, in which they reached the Class 3A State Final Four for the first time in school history, the 6'4 guard had some solid interest from division 1 schools but things just kept falling through when it came to the school pulling the trigger and offering a full athletic scholarship. Therefore he just focused on the fast approaching high school season. He had added around 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason and was looking to use it to be more effective helping out some inside for a Bishop Verot team that had graduated 3 players that stood taller than 6'6.
He started the season a bit slow, at least shooting the ball, and with him being known as deadly three point threat some questioned whether the added weight would wind up hurting more than helping in the long run. But no worries, because what he struggled to do on the outside he more than made up for in other areas. By the end of the season he had gotten his shooting touch back and on top of that added a key new component and stat to his resume, Verot's all time single season rebounding leader. On the season he averaged 16.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while also knocking down 51 shots from long range at a 39% mark. The weight obviously served its purpose as he held up for the whole season more consistently and increased his points per game, rebounds by double, all of his shooting percentages, and stayed almost identical in assists per game and three pointers made.
The biggest improvement of course though was the team success, as the Vikings went 23-9 on the season and outdid the previous season by three rounds in the Regional Playoffs with the 2007-08 team losing in the Quarterfinals of Regionals.
As for the recruitment process, well it still did not heat up throughout the season a ton or even on the heels of the state final four berth. It was after all of the college seasons ended and schools got a better idea of which players were sticking around and in some cases which coaches were going to be on staff in 2009-10. Stetson had been the main school continuing to show interest towards the end of the season but again never pulled the trigger with an offer. Then a couple of weeks ago Fordham, Duquesne, and Wright State set up visits to come and watch Brennen work out on Verot's campus and it was enough to push Fordham over the edge and finally work the rust off of that trigger and pull it. They offered and in turn Brennen set up an official visit to go a view the campus and meet with all of the coaching staff and players in New York at the conclusion of the FACA All-Star game in Orlando held on April 18th. On only his second day in the big city, his father at his side, Brennen showed Fordham the commitment they had shown by officially signing a National Letter of Intent to attend school there starting in the fall.
The letter of intent basically means that if he changed his mind and decided he did not want to go to Fordham in the future, the school would either have to grant him a release, which is rare, or he would forfeit a year of eligibility with whichever school he in turn chose to attend.
Thus said, the commitment has been made by both sides and from the outside it looks to be a good fit. Fordham wants skilled guys with high basketball IQs who they can count on in the classroom as much as they can on the court. Brennen wanted to play at a quality institution with good academics at the NCAA Division 1 level.
We spoke to Brennen Tuesday evening about his decision, the experiences of his recruitment, and more, this is what he had to say:
SWFL Hoops: So what made you decide this trip to sign? What made it a can't pass up deal?
Brennen: "The oppurtunity and experience of NYC and also the chance to come in right away and be able to play alot of minutes. Also, the education there is one of a kind."
SWFL: What is it like on campus? Really busy or laid back?
Brennen: "The campus is really really nice and beautiful, its in the bronx but the campus is totally different when u think of the bronx....it wasnt really that busy."
SWFL: What do you take out of the whole process looking back in terms of how schools held out so long but then came calling so much so late?
Brennen: "I think that being patience was the key. I was getting really anxious because i just wanted to know where i was going to go but since I was patience I found the right place
SWFL: What do you plan on working on the most between now and before you leave for NY basketball wise?**
Brennen: "Handles and my vertical. They want me to play alot of point so I need to get my handles to be top notch."
SWFL: Do you plan on changing your weight by either losing any to get quicker, adding weight, etc?
Brennen: "I plan on getting to around 205 but staying lean."
SWFL: Coming from a slow pace area like SWFL and now moving far away to one of the busiest cities in the world, does that scare ya a little?
Brennen: "I mean I'm not really scared but Im just worried that Im not gonna know my way around when I first get up here, but im sure I'll get use to it quick."
SWFL: How much is it actually IN the city? And had you ever been to NYC before this trip?
Brennen: "Its right in the Bronx. I came here on a school trip in 7th grade."
Fordham struggled with injuries this past season to a 3-25 overall record but will only graduate 3 seniors and had 6 true freshman on their roster so the future for Melvin and the Rams should be looking up for 2009-10.
Brennen chose Fordham over Duquesne, Fairfield, North Florida, Stetson, Wright St, and a few others.
Congratulations to Brennen and his family and we wish him the best of luck with everything in the future!
Verot's Brennen Melvin signs with Fordham University on Official Visit
Brennen Melvin, 2009, 6'4, 195, Guard, Bisho Verot (Scouting Video)
Aaron Seybert
SWFLHoops.com Recruiting
April 20, 2009
