Destiny Melendez Shines On and Off the Basketball Court
Destiny Melendez is always trying to shoot higher. A guard/forward for San Bernardino
Valley College’s women’s basketball team, Melendez is often the first one in the gym
on game days taking shots. It has paid off – in the last week of January she was tied
for 11th in the state for scoring and third in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference,
with an average of 19.2 points per game.
Later, in the last game of the season in February, she set a new school standard for points in a single game, scoring 48 points and besting the school mark of 42 set 25 years ago.
“I make some goals for each game for what I could do better,” she said. “I had 32 points ... my next goal is to be a top scorer and get 42 points, and overall consistently have 20 points a game. I trust all the work I put in and let it show.”
Melendez played for Wilmer Amina Carter High School in Rialto and made varsity her sophomore year. She found something she was good at and felt she could play at the collegiate level, and was drawn to SBVC by its coaching, environment, and closeness to home. Now, she wants others to see that they can accomplish the same things she has.
“I appreciate Destiny’s commitment to being a well-rounded student-athlete,” said Coach Julia Smith. “She excels in the classroom and on the court.”
Melendez's greatest attribute is her selflessness, Smith continued, as she "genuinely cares about her teammates and continues to make sacrifices to benefit the SBVC women’s basketball family."
Melendez, a nursing major who plans to transfer to a four-year university, said she appreciates the supportive people at SBVC and the resources they’ve offered, particularly the EOPS program. Looking ahead, she hopes to have a "great two to three years at a university and have fun," she said.
Later, in the last game of the season in February, she set a new school standard for points in a single game, scoring 48 points and besting the school mark of 42 set 25 years ago.
“I make some goals for each game for what I could do better,” she said. “I had 32 points ... my next goal is to be a top scorer and get 42 points, and overall consistently have 20 points a game. I trust all the work I put in and let it show.”
Melendez played for Wilmer Amina Carter High School in Rialto and made varsity her sophomore year. She found something she was good at and felt she could play at the collegiate level, and was drawn to SBVC by its coaching, environment, and closeness to home. Now, she wants others to see that they can accomplish the same things she has.
“I appreciate Destiny’s commitment to being a well-rounded student-athlete,” said Coach Julia Smith. “She excels in the classroom and on the court.”
Melendez's greatest attribute is her selflessness, Smith continued, as she "genuinely cares about her teammates and continues to make sacrifices to benefit the SBVC women’s basketball family."
Melendez, a nursing major who plans to transfer to a four-year university, said she appreciates the supportive people at SBVC and the resources they’ve offered, particularly the EOPS program. Looking ahead, she hopes to have a "great two to three years at a university and have fun," she said.
