Justin Melton

Justin Melton

Melton with the Star Hotshots in 2015
Personal information
Born	(1987-04-07) April 7, 1987 (age 37) Angeles City, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino / American
Listed height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Listed weight	165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High school	Tabb (Yorktown, Virginia)
College	Mount Olive (2005–2009)
PBA draft	2013: 2nd round, 13th overall pick
Selected by the San Mig Coffee Mixers
Playing career	2010–2023 [1]
Position	Point guard
Career history
2010	AABI CLineSP Artur Nogueira
2012	Westports Malaysia Dragons
2013–2021	Magnolia Hotshots
2021	Terrafirma Dyip
2022	Blackwater Bossing
2024	Mindoro Tamaraws
Career highlights and awards
4× PBA champion (2013–14 Philippine, 2014 Commissioner's, 2014 Governors', 2018 Governors') PBA All-Rookie Team (2014) 2014 PBA All-Star Weekend Slamdunk Competition Co-champion

Justin Brian Melton (born April 7, 1987), popularly known as QuickMelt, Mouse, The Flying Minion, and Minion, is a Filipino-American former professional basketball player. He was drafted 13th overall by the San Mig Coffee Mixers in the 2013 PBA draft. ^[2]

Early career

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. ^[3]

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. ^[4]

He played more than 20 minutes a game in his college years. ^[5]

Professional career

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. ^[6]

PBA

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. ^[7]

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. ^[8]

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

On November 25, 2021, Melton, along with Kyle Pascual, was traded to the Terrafirma Dyip for James Laput. ^[9]

On December 24, 2021, after only playing three games for the Dyip, Melton was traded to the Blackwater Bossing for Ed Daquioag. ^[10] Melton became an unrestricted free agent on February 1, 2023. ^[11] Shortly after, he retired from professional basketball. ^[12]

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

^{[13] [14]}

Season-by-season averages

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2013–14	San Mig Super Coffee	59	14.9	.384	.306	.820	2.1	1.3	.8	.2	4.1
2014–15	Purefoods / Star	41	15.6	.396	.308	.650	2.9	1.5	.7	.2	4.4
2015–16	Star	33	21.2	.319	.263	.730	2.8	2.4	1.0	.1	5.7
2016–17	Star	49	21.2	.370	.371	.750	2.5	1.9	.9	.2	5.1
2017–18	Magnolia	44	20.6	.376	.352	.667	3.5	2.2	1.2	.1	5.5
2019	Magnolia	52	20.6	.288	.277	.625	3.0	1.6	1.0	.0	3.8
2020	Magnolia	12	15.3	.367	.360	.000	1.3	.8	1.0	.0	2.6
2021	Magnolia	20	11.0	.233	.212	—	1.3	1.0	.7	.0	1.4
	Terrafirma
	Blackwater
2022–23	Blackwater	18	16.4	.278	.242	—	2.3	1.8	1.1	.0	2.1
Career		328	18.1	.347	.310	.713	2.6	1.7	.9	.1	4.2

Personal life

Melton is the son of Donnie Melton, an American, and Cecilia Fortes, a Filipino. ^[12] After retirement, he moved to İzmir, Turkey. ^[12]

References

1. "Justin Melton sheds light on reason behind retirement". fastbreak.com.ph. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
2. Complete 2013 PBA Draft Results – Philippine Basketball Association PBA
3. "Melton a Tabb alumni, dreams of building courts and houses after his PBA stint". Rappler.com. 9 November 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
4. "Mount Olive alumni featured on Yahoo Sports!". Mount Olive College Official Website. Retrieved October 28, 2013.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
5. "The quick rise of Justin 'QuickMelt' Melton". Jane Bracher, Rappler . February 2, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
6. "Gilas cadet member joining Malaysia ASEAN team". Reuben Tallado, Spin.ph. February 14, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
7. "San Mig's injury woes deepen as rookie Melton fractures left ring finger". Richard Dy, Spin.ph. November 21, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
8. "Melton, Guevarra declared co-champions of slam dunk contest". Renee Fopalan, GMA News. April 4, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
9. "Magnolia deals Melton, Pascual to Terrafirma for Laput". PBA.ph. November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
10. "Terrafirma deals newly acquired Melton to Bossing for Daquioag". PBA.ph. December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
11. Ramos, Gerry (February 9, 2023). "Justin Melton now a free agent after failing to get Blackwater extension". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
12. Gaa, Wendell (March 14, 2023). "PBA player Justin Melton examines options after retirement". thefilam.net. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
13. PBA-Online.net
14. Real GM