2023-24 Men's Basketball Roster
Melendez, RJ
Jersey Number 15
RJ Melendez
- Position:
- Guard
- Height:
- 6-7
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Arecibo, P.R.
- High School:
- Central Pointe Christian Academy
- Prev Team:
- Illinois
- Exchange Profile:
- Pitch an NIL Deal
Bio
Final bio (PDF)
• Recipient of the William K. Holmes Scholarship for 2023-24.
2023-24 Season Highlights:
• Named to the SEC’s Academic Honor Roll.
• Started six of 26 games played, averaging 9.6 points and 4.1 boards – Georgia’s second-leading rebounder – in 20.6 minutes of action per game.
• Produced the No. 5 season free throw per-centage in UGA history – .882 (60-of-68).
• Recorded 18 double-digit scoring games, led by a 35-point outburst at Florida, and posted a pair of double-figure rebound tallies leading to two double-doubles.
• His 35-point performance against the Gators tied the No. 20 single-game output in program history and represented Georgia’s highest tally of the 2023-24 campaign.
• Also recorded the Bulldogs’ single-game highs for rebounds (11 at Florida State), field goals made (13 at Florida) and steals (five at Florida).
• Put up 12 points in the season opener against Oregon, with nine of those points coming in the second half.
• Logged 32 minutes against Wake Forest in his second outing as Bulldog, one MP shy of his career high of 54 contests at Illinois.
• With a double-digit tally of family and friends on hand, notched his first double-double at Georgia with 12 points and a career-high-matching 11 rebounds at Florida State.
• Backed up his strong outing in Tallahassee with what was then a career-high 18 points against Mercer.
• Scored eight of his 12 points at South Carolina in a first-half span of 1:08 that flipped a four-point deficit (27-23) to a four-point lead (31-27).
• Put up double-figure scoring tallies in back-to-back SEC Tournament outings against Missouri and Florida, as well as an NIT first-round matchup against Xavier.
• Collected four steals against Xavier, the second-most ever by a Bulldog in the NIT.
Illinois Highlights:
• Played in 54 games over two seasons, with 19 starts, and compiled 276 points (5.1 ppg) and 149 rebounds (2.8 rpg).
• Helped Illinois earn back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids and a combined record of 43-26 during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns.
• Recorded 10 double-figure scoring tallies and one double-digit rebound mark, resulting in one double-double.
• Converted on a sizzling 83.8 percent (57-of-68) of his trips to the free throw line for the Fighting Illini.
• In two NCAA Tournament outings against Houston in 2022 and Arkansas in 2023, averaged 9.5 points while shooting .615 (8-of-13) from the field.
2022-23 Season Highlights:
• Started 18 of 32 games played, including seven of the final eight outings of campaign.
• Helped Illinois post a 20-13 record before falling to Arkansas in the Round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament.
• Averaged 6.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 83.3 percent from the line, the best clip among players in the Illini’s regular rotation.
• Reached double digits in the scoring column in eight outings, including four versus Big Ten competition.
• Started 11 of the season’s first dozen games, then came off the bench for 12 consecutive contests before returning to the lineup for seven of the last eight matchups.
• Posted his first double-digit scoring output of the season with 17 points versus Lindenwood on Nov. 25, a tally that stood as his career-high effort at Illinois.
• Hauled in a career-most 11 rebounds against Minnesota on Feb. 20 which, coupled with 10 points, produced his first double-double with the Illini.
• Scored 10 points and grabbed six boards in Illinois’ NCAA matchup with Arkansas.
2021-22 Season Highlights:
• A key reserve for Illinois in its march to a 23-10 record and the Round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament.
• Logged playing time in 22 contests, including his first career start against Notre Dame on Nov. 29, and averaged 3.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.
• An efficient shooter at all three percentages – .569 overall from the floor, .600 from 3-point range and .850 at the line.
• Produced his two double-figure scoring tallies in back-to-back contests, putting up 14 points against Northwestern on Feb. 13 and following that with 10 points at Rutgers on Feb. 16.
• In those outings against the Wildcats and Scarlet Knights, was a combined 5-of-8 (.625) from the field, 3-of-5 (.600) on 3-pointers and 11-of-11 (1.000) at the line.
• Finished the year with 15 consecutive makes at the free throw line, a streak he extended to 16 the following season before a miss.
High School Highlights:
• Coached by Richie Dalmau at Central Pointe Christian Academy (CPCA) in Kissimmee, Fla.
• Rated as the nation’s No. 56 overall prospect by ESPN.com, as well as No. 94 in the 247Sports.com composite, No. 101 by On3Sports.com, No. 120 by Rivals.com and No. 124 by 247Sports.com.
• Tabbed as one of the nation’s top-20 small forwards in the Class of 2021 by ESPN.com (No. 11) and 247Sports.com (No. 18).
• Scored a school-record 2,006 points at CPCA.
• Named Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) Player of the Year and first-team all-state as a senior in 2021.
• As a senior, averaged 24.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.3 blocks and 2.2 steals per game for CPCA.
• Helped the White Tigers finish 31-7 and No. 35 nationally in the ballislife.com Fab 50 National Rankings for 2020-21.
• As a junior, averaged 18.6 points and earned Most Valuable Player honors at the state tourney while leading CPCA for its first-ever SIAA state title.
• Helped Puerto Rico earn a Silver Medal at the 2019 U17 Centrobasket Championships in the Dominican Republic.
• Averaged 9.2 points – headlined by a 21-point outburst against El Salvador – 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals in five contests.
Personal:
• Born December 3, 2002, RJ is the son of Mariel Vega and Omar Melendez and intends to major in Sport Management.
• Recipient of the William K. Holmes Scholarship for 2023-24.
2023-24 Season Highlights:
• Named to the SEC’s Academic Honor Roll.
• Started six of 26 games played, averaging 9.6 points and 4.1 boards – Georgia’s second-leading rebounder – in 20.6 minutes of action per game.
• Produced the No. 5 season free throw per-centage in UGA history – .882 (60-of-68).
• Recorded 18 double-digit scoring games, led by a 35-point outburst at Florida, and posted a pair of double-figure rebound tallies leading to two double-doubles.
• His 35-point performance against the Gators tied the No. 20 single-game output in program history and represented Georgia’s highest tally of the 2023-24 campaign.
• Also recorded the Bulldogs’ single-game highs for rebounds (11 at Florida State), field goals made (13 at Florida) and steals (five at Florida).
• Put up 12 points in the season opener against Oregon, with nine of those points coming in the second half.
• Logged 32 minutes against Wake Forest in his second outing as Bulldog, one MP shy of his career high of 54 contests at Illinois.
• With a double-digit tally of family and friends on hand, notched his first double-double at Georgia with 12 points and a career-high-matching 11 rebounds at Florida State.
• Backed up his strong outing in Tallahassee with what was then a career-high 18 points against Mercer.
• Scored eight of his 12 points at South Carolina in a first-half span of 1:08 that flipped a four-point deficit (27-23) to a four-point lead (31-27).
• Put up double-figure scoring tallies in back-to-back SEC Tournament outings against Missouri and Florida, as well as an NIT first-round matchup against Xavier.
• Collected four steals against Xavier, the second-most ever by a Bulldog in the NIT.
Illinois Highlights:
• Played in 54 games over two seasons, with 19 starts, and compiled 276 points (5.1 ppg) and 149 rebounds (2.8 rpg).
• Helped Illinois earn back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids and a combined record of 43-26 during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns.
• Recorded 10 double-figure scoring tallies and one double-digit rebound mark, resulting in one double-double.
• Converted on a sizzling 83.8 percent (57-of-68) of his trips to the free throw line for the Fighting Illini.
• In two NCAA Tournament outings against Houston in 2022 and Arkansas in 2023, averaged 9.5 points while shooting .615 (8-of-13) from the field.
2022-23 Season Highlights:
• Started 18 of 32 games played, including seven of the final eight outings of campaign.
• Helped Illinois post a 20-13 record before falling to Arkansas in the Round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament.
• Averaged 6.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 83.3 percent from the line, the best clip among players in the Illini’s regular rotation.
• Reached double digits in the scoring column in eight outings, including four versus Big Ten competition.
• Started 11 of the season’s first dozen games, then came off the bench for 12 consecutive contests before returning to the lineup for seven of the last eight matchups.
• Posted his first double-digit scoring output of the season with 17 points versus Lindenwood on Nov. 25, a tally that stood as his career-high effort at Illinois.
• Hauled in a career-most 11 rebounds against Minnesota on Feb. 20 which, coupled with 10 points, produced his first double-double with the Illini.
• Scored 10 points and grabbed six boards in Illinois’ NCAA matchup with Arkansas.
2021-22 Season Highlights:
• A key reserve for Illinois in its march to a 23-10 record and the Round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament.
• Logged playing time in 22 contests, including his first career start against Notre Dame on Nov. 29, and averaged 3.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.
• An efficient shooter at all three percentages – .569 overall from the floor, .600 from 3-point range and .850 at the line.
• Produced his two double-figure scoring tallies in back-to-back contests, putting up 14 points against Northwestern on Feb. 13 and following that with 10 points at Rutgers on Feb. 16.
• In those outings against the Wildcats and Scarlet Knights, was a combined 5-of-8 (.625) from the field, 3-of-5 (.600) on 3-pointers and 11-of-11 (1.000) at the line.
• Finished the year with 15 consecutive makes at the free throw line, a streak he extended to 16 the following season before a miss.
High School Highlights:
• Coached by Richie Dalmau at Central Pointe Christian Academy (CPCA) in Kissimmee, Fla.
• Rated as the nation’s No. 56 overall prospect by ESPN.com, as well as No. 94 in the 247Sports.com composite, No. 101 by On3Sports.com, No. 120 by Rivals.com and No. 124 by 247Sports.com.
• Tabbed as one of the nation’s top-20 small forwards in the Class of 2021 by ESPN.com (No. 11) and 247Sports.com (No. 18).
• Scored a school-record 2,006 points at CPCA.
• Named Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) Player of the Year and first-team all-state as a senior in 2021.
• As a senior, averaged 24.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.3 blocks and 2.2 steals per game for CPCA.
• Helped the White Tigers finish 31-7 and No. 35 nationally in the ballislife.com Fab 50 National Rankings for 2020-21.
• As a junior, averaged 18.6 points and earned Most Valuable Player honors at the state tourney while leading CPCA for its first-ever SIAA state title.
• Helped Puerto Rico earn a Silver Medal at the 2019 U17 Centrobasket Championships in the Dominican Republic.
• Averaged 9.2 points – headlined by a 21-point outburst against El Salvador – 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals in five contests.
Personal:
• Born December 3, 2002, RJ is the son of Mariel Vega and Omar Melendez and intends to major in Sport Management.
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