Kent State senior Melvin Tabb removed from men’s basketball team

Richard Mulhall

If you Google Melvin Tabb’s name and click on the Kent State University Athletics link, you will get the infamous “404 Error message” indicates that the page could not be found.

You also won’t find the sophomore forward’s name on the Kent State men’s basketball team’s roster page anymore, either. 

That’s because Melvin Tabb is officially no longer a member of the Kent State men’s basketball program. He was suspended indefinitely from the team two weeks ago by Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff and has not been in uniform for the Flashes’ past four games.

Tabb was last seen on the court Feb. 8 in an away game against Eastern Michigan.

“Mel and I have met several times since [he was suspended], and we have agreed that it is in his best interests that he not return to the team this season,” Senderoff said in an interview with with Record Courier. “We will continue to support Mel toward graduation and beyond, and we wish him nothing but the best.”

Senderoff did not leave a comment as to why Tabb was suspended from the team, but this is not the first time controversy has surrounded his name and clouded his basketball career.

When Tabb was a sophomore at Wake Forest back in the 201l, he was dismissed from the team Feb. 7, 2011, for what was described as “conduct detrimental to the team.”

Wake Forest University Police put out a warrant for Tabb’s arrest in August of 2011, charging him with three crimes — felony breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods and obtaining property by false pretenses, otherwise known as fraud. 

This was not Tabb’s first incident during his brief but troubled stint with the school, either.

He missed much of the 2010-2011 preseason due to mononucleosis, and in November of 2010, he was relieved of his basketball duties so he could focus more on his studies.

Tabb returned to the team in December after a short leave of absence, but his return was short-lived once he was released from the team during that same season.

Tabb, who joined Kent State’s basketball team last season as a transfer from Midland junior college in Texas, played in 20 games this season, averaging 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.

The Flashes expected Tabb to provide an inside presence this season against larger, good inside Mid-American Conference teams like Buffalo and Bowling Green, but Tabb’s season — much like his career — at Kent State never panned out. 

Tabb averaged 3.5 points and 2.7 boards per game in 55 games during his Kent State career. 

Without no further news or comments from Senderoff about the situation at this time, it is unknown what the future holds for Tabb.

 Contact Richard Mulhall at [email protected].