Nationality American NBA draft 1989 / Undrafted Weight 109 kg Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Name Mel McCants Education Purdue University | Listed weight 240 lb (109 kg) Role Basketball Player Positions Basketball positions College Purdue (1985–1989) Height 2.03 m | |
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Born August 19, 1967 (age 56)
Chicago, Illinois ( 1967-08-19 ) High school Mt. Carmel (Chicago, Illinois) | ||
Melvin Lamont "Mel" McCants (born August 19, 1967) is a retired American basketball player. Along with James Farr, Derek Boyd and Chris Calloway, McCants led Chicago Mount Carmel to the 1985 Illinois state basketball championship. It is the only Illinois AA high school boys basketball championship won by a Chicago Catholic League School. He was selected to the 1982 and 1983 State Farm Holiday Classic all-tournament teams.
After high school, McCants attended Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, to play under legendary coach Gene Keady. Along with teammates Troy Lewis and Todd Mitchell, the forward helped the Boilermakers win back-to-back Big Ten Conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet Sixteen in 1988. McCants was drafted in 1989 by the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he played during the 1989–90 season.