Former Nansemond River High School basketball player Jay Melendez ended his junior season at The Apprentice School with some impressive accolades.

For the first time in his collegiate career, he was named a United States Collegiate Athletic Association First Team All-American, as determined by coaches around the USCAA.

“I thought it was well-deserved,” Builders coach Franklin Chatman said. He added Melendez has played well since coming to The Apprentice School, but “the last two years, he’s really turned it on. This year was a really, really good year for him.”

In 25 games, Melendez led his team with 17.5 points per game and was second on the team with 8.8 rebounds per game. He had 10 double-double this season, helping the Builders go 15-10 overall.

“He made all the big plays for us,” Chatman said. Later the coach added, “We put a lot of trust in Jay to do the right thing.”

Of his First Team All-American status, Melendez said, “It was definitely an honor to receive that,” noting it was one of his goals. “I’m definitely thankful to my coaching staff, teammates, helping me achieve that.”

Chatman noted the USCAA is made up of a large group of teams throughout the country. The Builders have a tough schedule, playing at the Division I level of the USCAA.

“We travel a lot, so a lot of teams get to see Jay play,” Chatman said.

Melendez said he thought what stood out about his game to opposing coaches that voted for him was his offensive versatility despite them usually assigning their best defender to guard him.

“I find different ways to score,” he said.

Melendez said he can shoot the jump shot, but if you take that away, he can drive, he can create his own shot and he loves to grab offensive rebounds, creating another avenue to score.

“Jay can score the ball from any position,” Chatman said. “He shoots the ball really well and then also he jumps really well, so he can finish at the rim, he can shoot deep, and he’s very aggressive when he wants to be.”

The coach said he was surprised Melendez did not receive the USCAA First Team All-American honor last year when he averaged a team-leading 18.1 points per game to go with 9.4 rebounds per game in 26 contests.

Accounting for the small drop in his stats, opposing defenses were more aware of Melendez this season. He was often the primary focus of their efforts, and he also had increased offensive support from senior teammate Johnnie Ferebee, who averaged 15.3 points per game.

Chatman affirmed Melendez is “just getting better every year.”

Nansemond River coach Ed Young was excited to see him become an All-American as a college player.

“He’s realized what his potential can be and worked toward it,” Young said. “I’m just really, really, really happy for him.”

The Builders’ 6 foot 4 inch star guard/forward also proved how deadly he could be from long range on March 3 when he won the men’s three-point shooting contest at the 2015 USCAA Nationals held in Pennsylvania.

Chatman said Melendez was debating whether to participate in the three-point contest or the dunk contest. He opted for the former and was part of a 14-man field. He advanced to the five-man semifinals, tied for fourth place, then got in a rhythm to produce a top score of 18 points.

He won in the finals, 14-13, against a shooter from Iowa Wesleyan College that Chatman said is really good, but the coach added that Jay “just doesn’t back down.”

Melendez said he had told a co-worker “I’d definitely bring a trophy back,” and ensured he kept his word with the win.