The Dagger - NCAAB

Do you know who Fab Melo is? Neither do I. But don't let our lack of knowledge restrain you: Apparently Fab Melo is one of the top recruits in the 2010 class. Rivals has him ranked at No. 5 overall and No. 2 at the center position. He's 7 feet tall. He appears to be quite good at basketball. As Ballin Is A Habit blogged yesterday, Melo firmly committed to play his basketball for Syracuse, meaning he'll be yet another Melo to take the highly touted freshman reins in Jim Boeheim's storied program.

All that is well and good, but I'd like to focus on what's really important here: that name. Because holy wow, that name is awesome.

It should be mentioned here that Fab Melo isn't actually this young man's name; it's a derivative of Fabricio de Melo, which sounds Brazilian because it is. De Melo started out on the recruiting circuit using his full name. Then he started tearing up fellow high schoolers, and his basketball coach, Weston (Fla.) Sagemont Upper School's Adam Ross, nominated something different:

"Everyone was calling him Fabio, Fabian and finally I just said, 'You know what, I see Brazilian soccer players go by one name,' " Ross said. " 'We gotta find a shorter name for you, like Yao or something. How about Fab Melo?' " The young man looked at Ross and smiled.

"OK, Fab Melo," he said. "Now he's Fab Melo," Ross concurred.

Adam Zagoria says the name sounds like a boy band or a soft drink, but the first thing that came to my mind was Jerry Springer. It sounds like the sort of vaguely hip-hop-y name someone would give themselves before they go on Jerry Springer or Maury Povich. Or, like, something Jamie Kennedy would think was funny. That Melo is by all accounts a relatively modest kid who discovered basketball in his home country at a late age -- he, like most Brazilians, grew up playing soccer -- and developed into a basketball phenom at a young age only makes that name better.

Anyway, welcome, Fab Melo. We strange-named fellow travelers turn our lonely eyes to you.

Elsewhere on the Yahoo! Sports Blogs:
Maurice Clarett's triumphant return will have to wait a while
J.R. Smith shuts down Twitter account amid controversy
Charles Rogers was extremely devoted to weed

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  1. EnestoT
    1. Posted by EnestoT Wed Aug 05, 2009 2:17 pm EDT

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    I would say Fab Melo has the second best name. The best name, Lebryan Nash (2011 class #6) who is Steve Nash, Lebron James and Kobe Bryant all rolled into one (names that is.)
  2. ricmic
    2. Posted by ricmic Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    When can I draft him~
  3. Robert W
    3. Posted by Robert W Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:28 pm EDT

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    This is a great addition to the Orange's already stellar 2010 recruiting class, as well as the first seven footer for the Orange since Craig "Big Nasty" Forth graduated.
    GO CUSE!
  4. Eazy
    4. Posted by Eazy Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:28 pm EDT

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    i'm glad he's going to syracuse they are my faveorite college team
  5. steve
    5. Posted by steve Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    Thats gay.
  6. Bullzero
    6. Posted by Bullzero Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    fab melo- haha what will they think of next?
  7. Brock Loser
    7. Posted by Brock Loser Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    This article is Awesome!!
    Second!
    Last!!
  8. Devon Da Phenom
    8. Posted by Devon Da Phenom Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    hope he is good ..for cuse sake
  9. Snik
    9. Posted by Snik Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    Nothing "fantastic" about that name. You lose your blog license.
  10. larry h
    10. Posted by larry h Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    Lebryan Nash IS STOOOPID!
  11. Eazy
    11. Posted by Eazy Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    Go yankees and lebron
  12. rono
    12. Posted by rono Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    will he be more like the late Yinka Dare of GWU - the Nigerian Nightmare?? Does he pass the ball?
  13. Eazy
    13. Posted by Eazy Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    Go yankees
  14. Jonas J
    14. Posted by Jonas J Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    Carmelo now Fab Melo...nice pickups.
  15. skrilla
    15. Posted by skrilla Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:36 pm EDT

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    dumbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  16. Cool-Z
    16. Posted by Cool-Z Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:36 pm EDT

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    seriously wow are we actually talking about this
  17. Rishikesh
    17. Posted by Rishikesh Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    how about "really tall man"
  18. Ponko cadenza
    18. Posted by Ponko cadenza Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    Sounds like a name of a soda. Or a washing detergent.
  19. obamasux
    19. Posted by obamasux Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    yankees suck
  20. Barry
    20. Posted by Barry Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    I think he made the wrong decision. UCONN has a much better basketball program.
  21. obamasux
    21. Posted by obamasux Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    skankee yankees are gay
  22. kevin d
    22. Posted by kevin d Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    haha i know him..he lives in my neighborhood..prety cool
  23. JOE
    23. Posted by JOE Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    here comes the big money
  24. Charlie S
    24. Posted by Charlie S Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    LeShack Byront (2013)
  25. hockeysoccernj
    25. Posted by hockeysoccernj Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    Oh hot dayum, this is mah jayum [Oh hot damn, this is my jam].

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