RJ Melendez

Photo by: Kedzie Griffin / Illinois Athletics

Photo by: Courtney Bay / Illinois Athletics

Photo by: Courtney Bay / Illinois Athletics

Photo by: Courtney Bay / Illinois Athletics

Photo by: Courtney Bay / Illinois Athletics

Photo by: Courtney Bay / Illinois Athletics

Played in 32 games, starting 18, and averaged 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds
10 points, six rebounds and three assists in NCAA Tournament first round vs. Arkansas (March 16)
12 points, four rebounds, and two assists in 2OT win over Michigan (March 2)
First career double-double with 10 points and career-high 11 rebounds in win over Minnesota (Feb. 20)
10 points and four rebounds vs. Indiana (Jan. 19)
Equaled career high with four assists in win at Minnesota (Jan. 16)
10 points in win at Nebraska (Jan. 10)
Six rebounds in win over No. 14 Wisconsin (Jan. 7)
Nine points, four boards and two steals in win over No. 2 Texas (Dec. 6)
13 points, seven rebounds and career-best three steals at No. 22 Maryland (Dec. 2)
15 points, six rebounds and two steals in win over Syracuse (Nov. 29)
Career-high 17 points (7-11 FG) with four boards vs. Lindenwood (Nov. 25)
Eight points with pair of threes vs. #16 Virginia (Nov. 20)
Nine points and five rebounds vs. Monmouth (Nov. 14)
Eight points vs. Kansas City (Nov. 11)
Career-high three blocks in opener vs. Eastern Illinois (Nov. 7)

Played in 22 games on the season, averaging 3.8 points and 1.7 rebounds
Nine points and three assists in NCAA Tournament second round vs. No. 15 Houston (March 20)
Missed three games from Feb. 24-March 3 after appendectomy
Averaged 10.7 points over three-game stretch from Feb. 8-16
10 points in 11 minutes at Rutgers (Feb. 16)
Set season highs with 14 points, six rebounds and two steals in win over Northwestern (Feb. 13)
Eight points on 3-3 FG at No. 3 Purdue (Feb. 8)
Six points and three rebounds in win at Northwestern (Jan. 29)
Five points, five boards and career-high four assists vs. Saint Francis PA (Dec. 18)
Four points in win over Rutgers (Dec. 3)
First career start in Big Ten/ACC Challenge win over Notre Dame (Nov. 29), hitting two 3-pointers for six points
Six points in eight minutes vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 12)
Five points and three rebounds in college debut vs. Jackson State (Nov. 9)

Four-star recruit ranked No. 56 by ESPN, No. 93 by 247Sports Composite and No. 117 by Rivals
Averaged 24.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals and 2.3 blocks as a senior, leading Central Pointe (CPCA) to a 33-7 record
Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) Player of the Year and first-team All-SIAA
Grind Session World Championship All-Star after averaging 24 points and helping CPCA advance to the quarterfinals
Scored 30 points in Northeast Classic while winning King of the Court and was MVP of the TreywayTV All-Star Game
Averaged 18.6 points as a junior, guiding CPCA to its first-ever SIAA state title and earning finals MVP honors
Finished his career as CPCA’s all-time leading scorer with 2,006 points
High school coach was Richie Dalmau
Played in the 2019 U17 Centrobasket Championships, averaging 9.2 points and 3.2 rebounds while helping Puerto Rico to a silver medal

Born Dec. 3, 2002
Majoring in recreation, sport and tourism
Parents are Mariel Vega and Omar Melendez
Favorite player is Kobe Bryant
Favorite athlete outside of basketball is Yadier Molina
Favorite food is mofongo with skirt steak
Hobbies include listening to music and playing Call of Duty and NBA 2K, and playing with his Great Pyranees puppy, JR
Favorite artist is Bad Bunny
Proudest basketball accomplishment is winning the 2022 Big Ten Championship
Chose Illinois because, “The team is successful, I have a great bond with the players on and off the court, and the Big Ten is the best conference.”