Year two at Syracuse was in a way quite disappointing for Fab Melo, who was productive when on the floor but struggled to stay eligible for academic reasons. But despite missing seven games this season including the entire NCAA Tournament, Melo is now rumored to be leaving Syracuse and heading for the NBA draft. This according to prominent sports attorney Darren Heitner:

Hearing Syracuse sophomore center Fab Melo will leave early & sign w/Arn Tellem of Wasserman Media Group.

—
Darren Heitner, Esq. (@DarrenHeitner) April 02, 2012

Melo averaged 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in only 25.4 minutes per game for the Orange this season. The team was 29-1 with the sophomore star in the lineup.

Melo brings an NBA-ready body to this spring’s draft — as a 7-foot, 250-pound center, he’d fit in well anywhere in the league.

Syracuse University announced today that Fab Melo has been reinstated. He will be eligible to play for the Orange on Saturday against St. John’s, according to the Associated Press.

The Orange held the 7-foot sophomore out of their road trip last week “due to an unresolved academic issue from the first semester.” Melo missed games against at Notre Dame, at Cincinnati and at home against West Virginia. The Orange suffered their first loss of the season Jan. 21 against the Fighting Irish.

With Melo out of the lineup, freshman Rakeem Christmas started at center and sophomore forward C.J. Fair moved into the starting lineup as well. Melo has continued to practice with the Orange despite missing the three games.

Melo is averaging 7.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game and leads the team with 60 blocked shots. Syracuse remains No. 2 in the nation with a record of 22-1, 9-1 in the Big East.

The 20-0 Syracuse Orange put their undefeated record on the line this weekend as they begin a road swing at Notre Dame and Cincinnati, and they’ll be without a key player. Center Fab Melo is staying home due to academic reasons, according to ESPN’s Andy Katz.

A source told Katz that Melo is out “due to an unresolved academic issue from the first semester.” Citing school policy and federal student privacy laws, the university declined to give any further details.

The Orange open their three-game road trip against the the Fighting Irish at 6 p.m. ET. The university is hoping to clear the issue up by next week, when the team returns home. Syracuse plays host to West Virginia next Saturday, Jan. 28.

“It’s obviously a big loss in the middle,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said to Syracuse Sports Network’s Matt Park. “We’re hoping that Fab can get back. We have to clear some hurdles. We feel very strongly about our team. Everybody’s going to have to work a little bit harder on the boards. We’ll be ready.”