ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure’s 2024-25 roster adds another potential impact player with the signing of senior guard Melvin Council Jr. who comes to the Bonnies following an all-conference season at Wagner.
A 6-foot-4 product of Rochester, Council earned First Team All-Conference honors for NEC champion Wagner last season. He appeared in all of his team’s 33 games, averaging 15 points and nearly six rebounds along with over three assists in nearly 38 minutes per game. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.
“Melvin is a long, athletic scoring guard who can put the ball in the basket at all three levels. His explosiveness in the open court will create problems for the opposing defense,” St. Bonaventure head coach Mark Schmidt said. “Melvin is also a tremendous rebounder for his position. We are excited to add a player with his experience. He enjoyed great success last season at Wagner, both individually and with the team’s run to the NCAA Tournament. We are counting on another successful experience with an alum of the Northeast Conference.”
Council was at his best during the postseason last year, picking up NEC All-Tournament Team accolades before starring in the NCAA Tournament. In Wagner’s First Four win over Howard, Council made history by becoming the first player in an NCAA Tournament game to register 20 points with more than five rebounds and five assists while shooting over 50 percent from the field and playing every minute of the game and not committing a foul since assists became official in 1984. He scored 21 points in Wagner’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win and later posted 18 points and four rebounds in a second round matchup vs. North Carolina.
He registered 20 or more points seven times during the 2023-24 season and logged double-figure scoring in all but one conference game. He also added four double-doubles during the campaign.
Council came to Wagner following an NJCAA Division I First Team All-American season at Monroe College. He averaged 18.7 points, 4.1 assists and 2.4 steals in 2022-23 and became Monroe’s all-time leading scorer with 1,400 points in two seasons there. He also shined brightest in the postseason, averaging 21 points, 5.5 assists and five rebounds in two games at the 2023 NJCAA Division I Tournament. He was also an honorable mention All-America selection following his freshman season.
A graduate of University Prep in Rochester, he helped his squad to a Section V, Class AA title in 2020 with 25 points per game.
Council joins fellow transfer guards with Division I experience in Chance Moore (Missouri State/Arkansas), Dasonte Bowen (Iowa), Jaxon Edwards (Valpo/Murray State) and Lajae Jones (Tarleton State) on Bonaventure’s new roster along with junior college product Jonah Hinton as well as returning senior center Noel Brown, sophomore guard Miles Rose, redshirt freshman forward Duane Thompson and true freshman wing Ebrahim Kaba.
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