In an ironic twist, the man Fab Melo would have guarded — the man who almost singlehandedly prevented Syracuse from reaching the Final Four — is now his teammate.

After Boston selected Ohio State center Jared Sullinger with the 21stpick in the 2012 NBA draft, the Celtics took Melo one pick later at No. 22. They would have guarded each other in the Elite Eight matchup in Boston’s TD Garden, but Melo was academically ineligible.

Hearing his name called, though, meant Melo had finally reached the NBA after a rollercoaster career at Syracuse that ended on the sidelines of the NCAA Tournament. He and Dion Waiters, who was taken fourth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, became the first pair of SU teammates drafted in the first round since 1991.

“I’m so happy to be a Boston Celtic,” Melo said in a text message. “This is a dream come true to be able to celebrate with the people that care about me most.”

Melo, a native of Juiz de Fora, Brazil, said he watched the draft in Miami with his mother, several family members and his high school coach.

He arrived in the United States as a teenager with tremendous hype and excitement. Then came disappointment. Then vindication. And ultimately disappointment.

Once the No. 14 recruit in the country coming out of The Sagemont School in Weston, Fla., Melo arrived at Syracuse overweight and out of shape. He struggled to stay on the court for more than a few possessions at a time, and he was ineffective during those possessions anyway.

He played fewer than 10 minutes per game in his freshman season, scoring less than three points per game. All that after being named the Big East Preseason Rookie of the Year.

But then a transformation took place. Melo lost 30 pounds between his freshman and sophomore season. He gained mobility, gained stamina and developed swagger.

Melo 2.0 was unveiled during the 2011-12 season, anchoring the center of SU’s 2-3 zone and guiding the Orange to a 20-0 start. Opponents feared the middle of the paint.

Five times he blocked six or more shots in a game, and once he blocked a school-record 10 shots against Seton Hall.

But coupled with success came frustration. Melo was academically ineligible for seven games during the course of the season, including the entire NCAA Tournament.

After guiding the Orange to a No. 1 ranking during part of the season and a No. 1 seed in the tournament, Melo’s career ended with disappointment. A team that appeared destined for the Final Four struggled without its best defender and ultimately fell to Ohio State in the Elite Eight.

Still, the numbers were impressive. He scored 7.8 points per game — more than a 300 percent improvement — while grabbing 5.8 rebounds and blocking 2.9 shots per game. He was the Big East Defensive player of the Year.

It was good enough to catch the attention of NBA scouts and general managers, so Melo left Syracuse after two years.

He left SU by disappointing thousands of fans, but he always had the support of head coach Jim Boeheim and his teammates.

Earlier in the week, Boeheim said he was proud of Melo’s development and happy that he would get an opportunity in the NBA.

It’s been a long journey from the soccer fields of Brazil to the ranks of the NBA player, but he made it. And now he can focus on basketball 100 percent of the time.

Said Melo: “I’m ready to get to Boston and show everyone why they drafted me.”

Published on June 29, 2012 at 10:22 am

Contact Michael: mjcohe02@syr.edu | @Michael_Cohen13