6'9", 240 lbs forward comes to Kent State from Midland J.C. (Tex.)

KENT, Ohio — Kent State men's basketball Head Coach Rob Senderoff has announced the signing of Melvin Tabb to a National Letter of Intent. A 6'9", 240-pound forward, Tabb hails from Raleigh, N.C. and joins the program after spending this past season playing for Midland College in Texas.

"Melvin is a multifaceted post player that can score in the paint and the perimeter.  He can defend both post positions and is a good passer as well," said Senderoff who led the Golden Flashes to 21 wins in his first season as head coach last year.  "His AAU coach Tony Edwards and junior college coach Chris Craig have done a great job demanding and pushing him to get better and better."

Tabb averaged 9.2 points and 5.9 rebounds for Midland last season while helping guide the team to a 17-10 record.  Prior to his stint in Texas, he played the 2010-11 season at Wake Forest appearing in 14 games off the bench  averaging 8.9 minutes per game.

"Melvin is very talented and someone we expect to have an impact on our program next year.  With the graduation of (Justin) Greene, (Justin) Manns and (Patrick) Jackson, we are losing a lot of our physical presence in the post and he is someone who will be able to help fill that void and really have an impact for us up front this year."  

Coming out of Enloe High School in 2010 he was ranked by ESPN as the No. 17 power forward and the No. 74 overall prospect.  The organization also tabbed him as the seventh-best recruit out of the state of North Carolina.  

He capped off his senior year by being named to the 2009-10 Associated Press All-State Team and leading Enloe to a 22-5 record, the 4A East Sectional Finals and a Cap 7 Conference title while averaging 15.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.  In addition he was named to the Cap 7's Academic All-Conference team.  Tabb played his AAU ball for the CP3 All-Stars where he teamed with Reggie Bullock (North Carolina), Jay Canty (Xavier), Ryan Kelly (Duke), C.J. Leslie (NC State) and John Wall (Washington Wizards).

Tabb will join the four-member incoming class of junior, Darren Goodson (junior, G/F) and three freshmen to be, Khaliq Spicer (freshman, F/C) Chris Ortiz (freshman, F) and Kellon Thomas (freshman, G) inked by Senderoff in November as well as incoming Tulsa transfer Bryson Pope (junior, G), who will be eligible after sitting out 2011-12 to NCAA Transfer rules.  

2012-13 Kent State Newcomers/Transfers

Melvin Tabb    Jr.    F    6'9"    240    Raleigh, N.C. / Enole H.S. / Wake Forest / Midland College [Tex.]
Bryson Pope    Jr.    G    6'6"    220    Jenks, Okla. / University of Tulsa
Darren Goodson    Jr.    G/F    6'4"    240    Cincinnati, Ohio / Aiken H.S. / Pensacola State College [Fla.]
Khaliq Spicer    Fr.    F/C       6'9"       195       Dearborn Heights, Mich. / Robichaud H.S.
Chris Ortiz    Fr.       F    6'8"       215       Brooklyn, N.Y. / Christ the King H.S. / South Kent Prep [Conn.]
Kellon Thomas    Fr.    G    5'11"    175    Indianapolis, Ind. / Southport H.S.