Melvin Turpin facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 28, 1960 Lexington, Kentucky |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | July 8, 2010 (aged 49) Lexington, Kentucky |
| High school | Bryan Station (Lexington, Kentucky) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Kentucky (1980–1984) |
| NBA Draft | 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall |
| Selected by the Washington Bullets | |
| Pro career | 1984–1990 |
| Career history | |
| 1984–1987 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1987–1988 | Utah Jazz |
| 1988–1989 | Zaragoza |
| 1989–1990 | Washington Bullets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 3,071 (8.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,655 (4.6 rpg) |
| Blocks | 348 (1.0 bpg) |
Melvin Harrison Turpin (born December 28, 1960) was an American professional basketball player. He played for five seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Melvin was an All-American college player. He played for the University of Kentucky, where he helped his team reach the 1984 Final Four.
Contents
Melvin Turpin's Basketball Journey
Melvin Turpin was a tall basketball player, standing 6 feet 11 inches. He played as a center, which is a position usually for the tallest player on the team. They play close to the basket to score points and block shots. Melvin was born in Lexington, Kentucky.
Before college, he attended Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia. This was from 1979 to 1980. He was named the most valuable player for his team there. He averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds, and six blocked shots per game. Later, in 2000, he was added to the Fork Union Military Academy Hall of Fame.
College Career at Kentucky
Melvin Turpin played college basketball at the University of Kentucky. He was a very important player for the team. He was named to the 1st Team All-SEC in both 1982 and 1983. The SEC stands for the Southeastern Conference, which is a group of colleges that play sports against each other.
In the 1983–84 season, he was a starter for the Kentucky Wildcats team. This team made it to the NCAA Final Four. In 1984, he led the Southeastern Conference in scoring. He also set a record for the most field goals made in the SEC tournament. He even shared the record for the most points scored in a single tournament game.
Melvin had some amazing games in college. As a junior, he scored 42 points against the University of Tennessee. He made 18 out of 22 shots in that game. As a senior, he played very well against Louisiana State University. He made 15 out of 17 shots and five out of six free throws.
Playing in the NBA
In the 1984 NBA draft, Melvin Turpin was a top pick. He was chosen sixth overall in the first round by the Washington Bullets. However, he was immediately traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
As a professional player, Melvin faced some challenges. After six seasons, he played for the Cavaliers, the Utah Jazz, CAI Zaragoza in Spain, and the Bullets again. He then retired from professional basketball.
During his time in the National Basketball Association, Melvin played in 361 regular season games. He averaged 8 points and almost 5 rebounds per game. In the 1988–89 season, he played in Spain for CAI Zaragoza. After that, he was traded to the Jazz for another player named José Ortiz.
The 1984 NBA draft class was very talented. It included future basketball legends like Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton.
Later Life and Passing
For a period in the 2000s, Melvin Turpin worked as a security guard. He passed away on July 8, 2010, at the age of 49.
See also
In Spanish: Melvin Turpin para niños
