Melum Chapman bound

Tony Melum, a three-year boys basketball standout at Newport

Harbor High who began this season at Colorado School of Mines, has

left the school and plans to continue his college career at Chapman

University, he said Tuesday.

The 6-foot-6 Melum scored eight points in four games at Mines,

before leaving school at the conclusion of the fall semester, due to

academic difficulties. He also averaged two rebounds and recorded two

assists and one blocked shot for the Orediggers.

Melum said he will be eligible for the start of the season next

year at Chapman, where his former Newport Harbor teammate, Greg

Perrine, is starting as a freshman guard for the Panthers.

-- by Barry Faulkner