Syracuse (WSYR-TV/AP) – The Syracuse University Athletics Department confirmed on Thursday morning that center Fab Melo will return to the team’s roster.
A spokesperson for the department said that Melo will return in time for the Orange’s game against St. John’s in Madison Square Garden.
The spokesperson said that school policy and federal student privacy laws prohibited the school from commenting further on the matter.
The 7-foot sophomore sat out the past three games, at Notre Dame and Cincinnati and at home against West Virginia on Saturday while resolving an academic issue. Melo is averaging 7.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game and leads the second-ranked Orange with 60 blocked shots.
Syracuse (22-1, 9-1 Big East) went 2-1 without Melo in the lineup, suffering its lone loss to the Irish on Jan. 21.
Melo had continued practicing with the team during his academic suspension. In his absence, freshman Rakeem Christmas started at center and sophomore forward C.J. Fair moved into the starting lineup for the first time.
