Nicole Melious Leads Hoopers NY College Division with 39 Points in 44-Point Win

La Salle University incoming freshman guard Nicole Melious never looked better, scoring 39 points in NY Hoopers’ (College Division) 89-45 victory over Va 1 at the Janice Pro Classic at Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan Sunday afternoon.

Melious, a former star basketball player at Wagner High School on Staten Island, only played three quarters, but it was enough to wow the onlookers at the tournament. She connected on six three pointers in a spectacular performance.

Hoopers NY head coach and Nicole’s dad Dan Melious was extremely happy to have his daughter back in the fold. He said he has his eye on Nicole leading by example as she teaches his players the ropes before she heads back to college.

“Having Nicole back, I hope she can mentor and show players how to play heads up, advance ball,” Melious said. “See the court, dribble less, move without the ball…the little things.”

In just a few months, he said the younger Melious has taken her game to another height, just proven her former Wagner High School hoops coach Tom Rizzo right.

“She’s already playing at a faster pace than when she left in June for college,” he noted. “As coach Rizzo said numerous times, she makes things a lot easier and makes a coach look smart.”

Rising juniors Aliyah Lambo (Randolph HS, N.J.) and Jordanna Schrecker (New Drop HS, Staten Island) chipped in with16 points and 12 points, respectively.

Former teammate and rising senior Saniyah Wilkerson, who just finished up her AAU season with the Staten Island Diamonds, dropped in six points.

Melious said he relished the fact that the was some sort of Staten Island girls’ high school basketball reunion with some of the girls on the team.

“Her, Jordanna and Wilkerson played together before. It was fun to see Nicole and Siniyah again,” Melious said. “Jordanna had all the pressure on her all AAU season. I know she just enjoyed playing (free) again.”

As for Lambo, who scored 216 points and grabbed a team leading 200 rebounds this past New Jersey girls’ high school season, the older Melious offered up high praise for her.

“Aliyah Lambo is a baller,” he exclaimed. “She loved that (fast) tempo and flourished. She gets out in break and is ultra-athletic.”

— Jerry Del Priore

Photo: Dan Melious

Nicole Melious with future basketball star Sanyah Toro (middle).