Greg Melvin – Athlete of the Week – December 13, 2019
Varsity Boys’ Basketball has historically been one of Cape Henry Collegiate’s most storied programs, winning 11 TCIS Tournament Championships and two DI State Titles. The Dolphin community has watched DI, DII, DIII Collegiate Athletes, as well as current and future NBA Athletes grace the hardwood at Cape Henry Collegiate. This week’s Athlete of the Week, sophomore Greg Melvin, is quietly on the fast track to becoming synonymous with Cape Henry Collegiate Varsity Basketball history. While Melvin may appear quiet and reserved, his ferocious tenacity and laser-like focus on the court have propelled the Dolphins to early success this season.
“Greg has been the most consistent student-athlete for Varsity Basketball thus far,” Head Coach Mark Hall said of Greg Melvin. “He has continued to transform his game and has been a key contributor to our early success.”
At this point last season, Greg was averaging eight points per game and adding nearly five rebounds in each contest. Through three regular-season matchups in the 2019-2020 season, Greg is posting monstrous numbers, averaging a team-high 19.66 points per game and a mind-boggling 14 rebounds per game.
“As our record stands at 2-1, Greg has been a big part of our early wins,” Coach Hall added of Melvin. “He has become stronger in his second season with Cape Henry and has been able to stretch his game out to the 3-point line. This progression to his game was on full display throughout our games last week.”
The Dolphins kicked off the regular season with a matchup with State rival, Benedictine. Greg and the Dolphins earned the win, 76-64, behind Melvin’s 12 points and 11 rebounds. Following the season-opening victory, the Dolphins matched up with a gritty Lancaster High School team in the John Stone Tournament, winning 62-39 as Greg put up 16 points and 17 boards. Rounding out the week’s play, Greg posted the best game of his season, adding 31 points and picking up 14 rebounds despite the Dolphins’ first loss of the season.
“He has been a tremendous role model for the younger student-athletes at Cape Henry,” Coach Hall finished of Greg Melvin, “he works hard in practice every day, and that has carried over to the court. I wish him much-continued success for the remainder of his basketball career.”
The gentle-giant that is Greg Melvin is becoming one of the most dominant players in not only the Tidewater area but also in the state of Virginia. Averaging a double-double in the 32-minute contests is no easy feat, and Melvin is showing no signs of slowing down this season. Whether on the perimeter or in the paint, Greg is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams, using his strength to punish smaller defenders and his agility to blow by those who match his size. As programs are forced to take one aspect of his game away at all times, his quiet confidence makes this an impossible task as Melvin is not ashamed to do whatever it takes to help the Dolphins win.
As the Dolphins prepare for the remainder of the season, Cape Henry Collegiate will lean heavily on the humble sophomore forward to continue his early success and carry the Dolphins to a 12th TCIS Tournament Championship. First, the Dolphins will travel to Nansemond-Suffolk Academy to take on Broadwater Academy at 4:00 pm on Friday, December 13.
About the Contributor
