Orlando 'El Gato' Melendez enjoys entertaining fans with Harlem Globetrotters

Posted Mar 21, 2018
Orlando Melendez became the first native of Puerto Rico to sign with the Harlem Globetrotters. A former University of North Carolina player who was part of Final Four teams in 1998 and 2000, Melendez signed with the Globetrotters in 2008. As a child, he first thought the Globetrotters were merely cartoon characters that appeared on a Scooby-Doo episode. (Dothan Eagle)

Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting

Michael Malone Wasn’t Carolina, But He Wasn’t a Stranger, Either
Michael Malone sat in the stands at the Smith Center with a notebook, just another visitor watching Carolina's basketball practice. Minutes later, then-head coach Hubert...
Sun Apr 12, 2026

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Tyler Hansbrough Praises Michael Malone Hire
Michael Malone takes the reins for UNC Men's Basketball. Will his passionate, tough-minded approach return the Tar Heels to national title contention? Tyler Hansbrough discusses...
Sun Apr 12, 2026

UNC Transfer Jonathan Powell Commits to Pittsburgh Basketball
Jonathan Powell’s time in Chapel Hill is over. On Saturday, the sophomore wing became the first Tar Heel of the offseason to choose another school...
Sat Apr 11, 2026

Luka Bogavac Entering Transfer Portal
With the transfer portal open and UNC recently hiring Michael Malone, Luka Bogavac has elected to explore other opportunities. On Saturday, the native of Montenegro...
Sat Apr 11, 2026