SYRACUSE — Syracuse center Fab Melo has been reinstated and will play in the Orange’s road game against St. John’s on Saturday.

The university made the announcement Thursday.

The 7-foot sophomore sat out the past three games, at Notre Dame and Cincinnati and at home against West Virginia on Saturday while resolving an academic issue. Melo is averaging 7.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game and leads the second-ranked Orange with 60 blocked shots.

Syracuse (22-1, 9-1 Big East) went 2-1 without Melo in the lineup, suffering its lone loss to the Irish, 67-58, on Jan. 21.

Melo had continued practicing with the team during his academic suspension. In his absence, freshman Rakeem Christmas started at center and sophomore forward C.J. Fair moved into the starting lineup for the first time.

In his last game, Melo had 10 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes of a 71-63 win over Pittsburgh on Jan. 16.