DePaul adds top 10 Mass. player to recruiting class

DePaul coach Oliver Purnell added one more player to the 2010-11 roster today as Cleveland Melvin signed a National Letter of Intent to join the basketball program. He is the fourth member of DePaul's incoming class that heads to Lincoln Park later this summer.

"Cleveland Melvin really fits well into the up-tempo style of play," said Purnell. "He is a tremendous athlete with a tremendous work ethic and a love for the game of basketball. I believe all of that translates into a bright future."

Melvin played last season at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Fitchburg, Mass., and finished his season in the quarterfinals of the National Prep Championship. He was ranked among the top 10 players in Massachusetts by the New England Recruiting Report as Notre Dame Prep finished the year with a 30-5 record.

The 6-foot-8, 210-pound native of Baltimore led Lake Clifton High School to the city, county and state titles during the 2008-09 season. Melvin averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots per game as a senior and led the Lakers to a perfect 29-0 record. He also played on the AAU circuit for Cecil Kirk out of Baltimore.

Melvin joins three other signees to form DePaul's incoming class for next season. Moses Morgan, Walter Pitchford and Brandon Young all signed with DePaul in November. Morgan is a 6-5 guard/forward out of Las Vegas while Pitchford, a 6-10 center, returns to his hometown next season after playing at New Creations Christian School (Ind.). Young is a 6-4 guard from Washington, D.C. and Melvin rounds out the class as a 6-8 forward.