Column: A role model for versatility on the court
Crespi High guard De’Anthony Melton has developed into one of the most versatile basketball players in Southern California.
In this era of social media, private coaches and travel teams ad nauseam, it’s hard for a talented eighth-grade basketball player to enter high school without someone screaming, “He’s the next LeBron.”
De’Anthony Melton escaped the onslaught of expectations and hype, perhaps because he was more interested in playing football and hung out with a travel team made up of his friends from the San Fernando Valley.
That didn’t prevent Encino Crespi Coach Russell White from getting excited when he began to realize the type of athlete who had shown up on campus.
“I remember him blocking a shot as a freshman,” White said. “You could see the ability and instincts, but you don’t know how it’s going to progress into a consistent commodity on the court. That’s what it has become.”
Over the course of four high school seasons, the 6-foot-3 Melton has developed into one of the most versatile basketball players in Southern California. There are only a few teenagers capable of playing any position in basketball. Melton is one of them. In any game, you will find him contributing in many different ways: blocking shots, rebounding, stealing balls, making assists, scoring on offensive rebounds, scoring on three-pointers, dribbling the length of the court on a fast break, posting up. His nickname should be the Swiss Army Knife.
His versatility helped Crespi win a state Division IV championship last season, and the Celts are 24-3 this season going into Friday’s first-round game of the Southern Section Open Division playoffs against host LaVerne Damien.
“It presents you as a player a lot more people would want,” said Melton, a USC signee. “It shows the coaches the more versatile, the better. If you can affect the game in a lot of ways, it gives your team a better chance to win.”
White has become known as a coach who develops good guards. At Calabasas he coached Drew Housman, who later became a starter at Harvard. At Crespi he coached London Perrantes, now a starter at Virginia. Melton will become another legacy player, because his toughness and discipline have prepared him for the challenges ahead. He has matured on and off the court, something that is required to succeed at the next level.
“We talk about the Crespi man, and De’Anthony is becoming that before our eyes,” White said. “He came and didn’t really know what he was getting into academically, spiritually, formation wise. Now he’s a leader on campus, respected by all. His religion teacher spoke to me the other day how he’s a completely different kid. As a senior, he’s doing it all right — pays attention, is respectful. Obviously on the court, he does it all. Game to game, he just seems to be getting better.”
Melton is averaging 19.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
“It feels good to be a leader and to look back where I came from,” Melton said. “I played with my friends. I was more into football. I started to love basketball.”
Now he has become the example for young players seeking guidance and looking for someone to emulate.
“I’ll be whatever they need me to be,” he said of his role in basketball.
Twitter: @LATSondheimer
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