Silas Melson: Attention to detail

The Portland native was pressed into duty last year as a true freshman when Josh Perkins was sidelined. Roughly two minutes into his first game against St. John’s in the NIT Season Tip-Off championship at famed Madison Square Garden, Melson drained a 3-pointer. He made 34 percent beyond the 3-point line and averaged 3.2 points in limited playing time.

Melson, an explosive jumper who is more athletic than Gary Bell Jr., has the potential to be a defensive standout.

“Their attention to detail,” said the 6-foot-4 Melson, when asked what he learned from Kevin Pangos and Bell. “A lot of guys in college don’t really pay that much attention to detail the way they did and it was one of the reasons they were so good and we were so good.

“I like to take defense kind of personally. I don’t want my guy to score on me and I want to help my teammates’ back.”