Remember Melvin Calhoun? He played point guard at Port Chester until 2005, leading the Rams to back-to-back County Center appearances.

Well, the 5-foot-8 Calhoun is finally realizing his college basketball dream after a long, frustrating journy through prep schools and junior colleges. On Sunday he signed to play with Northwood University, an NAIA school in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Northwood is entering its fourth season as a basketball program. It competes in the Florida Sun Conference and features Lester Hunte, a Yonkers native and Lincoln High graduate, and is coached by the famous Rollie Massimino. For the youngsters out there, Massimino has been coaching for 40 years and led Villanova to the unforgettable 1985 NCAA Championship. In three seasons at Northwood, he’s guided the Seahawks to a 77-23 record and three straight NAIA National Tournament appearances.

Massimino actually came up to Larchmont for the Calhoun signing, as you can see in the picture to the right.

Calhoun has taken a long road to Northwood. He was recruited heavily by several Division I schools, including Iona, but didn’t qualify academically. He attended Milford Academy and Laurinberg Prep in North Carolina and he still didn’t pass the NCAA Clearinghouse. Calhoun then enrolled at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Penn. and earned his Associates Degree in Sports Management. He’ll be a junior at Northwood and have two years of eligibility.

Think what you want about Calhoun or Port Chester basketball, but you cannot dismiss what this kid has accomplished. Calhoun could have easily given up on basketball and on school after what he went through, and gone down the wrong path. But he didn’t. He stuck with it when so many would have quit. You’ve got respect his persistence and drive. Melvin should be used as an example for any coach or parent who can’t get through to their kid when it comes to academics.

Congrats to Melvin.