Melsahn Basabe is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 college basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

 player, who plays power forward

Power forward (basketball)

Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...

 at the University of Iowa

University of Iowa

The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...

.

Personal background

Basabe was born in Glen Cove, New York

Glen Cove, New York

Glen Cove is a city in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 26,964....

 to father Carlos Basabe and mother Aloha Wilks. Although born in Glen Cove, Basabe attended St. Mark's School

St. Mark's School (Massachusetts)

St. Mark’s School is a coeducational, Episcopal, preparatory school, situated on in Southborough, Massachusetts, from Boston. It was founded in 1865 as an all-boys' school by Joseph Burnett, a wealthy native of Southborough who developed and marketed the world-famous Burnett Vanilla Extract . ...

 in Southborough, Massachusetts

Southborough, Massachusetts

Southborough is an affluent town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It incorporates the smaller villages of Cordaville, Fayville, and Southville. Its name is often informally shortened to Southboro, a usage seen on many area signs and maps. Its population was 9,767 at the 2010...

.

High school career
Basabe's high school coach was David Lubick. During the summer of 2009, Basabe was a member of the highly-regarded New York Gauchos. He averaged 13 points and nine rebounds the following year playing for the NEPSAC Class C runner-up Lions, including an impressive showing in his team's first 2010 playoff game, in which he scored 30 points. He was a team captain, and he received all-league honors as a senior.

Collegiate background

Rivals.com

Rivals.com

Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...

 rated Basabe as a 3-star power forward. He was set to play for current Iowa coach Fran McCaffery

Fran McCaffery

Fran McCaffery is an American college basketball coach and the current men's head basketball coach at the University of Iowa. He is the former head of the Siena men's basketball program. He previously served as head coach of Lehigh University and UNC Greensboro...

 when McCaffery was still coaching Siena

Siena

Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...

. When Iowa fired then coach Todd Lickliter

Todd Lickliter

Todd Lickliter is a basketball coach. He was the head coach of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and Butler University Bulldogs men's basketball team. In 2011 he became an assistant coach at Miami .-Early years:...

 after three years of mediocrity, Basabe decided to follow McCaffery to Iowa. Boston College

Boston College

Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...

 and St. John's were thought to be interested in Basabe as well.

He finished the year averaging 11 points second on the team, 6.8 rebounds first on the team, and 1.3 blocks per game also first on the team.
Basabe had a career high 22 points against then #2 Ohio State on January 4, 2011. Basabe also added 13 rebounds and 6 blocks, despite being covered by Jared Sullinger

Jared Sullinger

Jared Sullinger is an American college basketball player. He is a sophomore at Ohio State and was one of the top rated basketball players in the class of 2010.-High school career:...

 for most of the game.

Basabe led Iowa in rebounding and blocks as a freshman. He is the first Hawkeye

Iowa Hawkeyes

The Iowa Hawkeyes are the athletics teams that represent the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. The Hawkeyes have varsity teams in 24 sports, 11 for men and 13 for women. The teams participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and are members of the...

, regardless of class, to collect 325 points, 200 rebounds, and 40 blocks in a single season since Ryan Bowen

Ryan Bowen

Ryan Cleo Bowen is an American former professional basketball player who last played for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA. He was a 6'9", power forward.-Career:...

in 1998.

Basabe and fellow teammate Bryce Cartwright were awarded honorable mention all-Big Ten recognition. Basabe was named to the Big Ten's all-freshman team, which is selected by coaches.