What makes a Hometown Favorite? For the answer, look no further than De'Anthony Melton, the 2022 Drew League Playoffs MVP. Born and raised in LA, he stayed in the City of Angels for college, playing just one year for USC before deciding to take his talents to the pro level. But his Drew League story precedes that. He first played for Hometown Favorites in 2016, proving himself as a reliable scorer and playmaker despite his youth. This year, though, he wanted to be more than reliable – he wanted to be spectacular. When he returned to his team in week 5, they were just 1-3 in the first four weeks after stumbling out of the gate in the opening month. However, with Melton in command, that record quickly reversed, and they won 5 of the remaining 6 games to enter the playoffs in the #2 spot. In their first two games of the playoffs, Melton scored 26 points with 6 rebounds and 5 assists against Ghost, then 28 points and 6 rebounds against Redemption. He continued to be the engine of the offense in the semifinals, contributing 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists against presumptive favorites Nationwide Souljas, and led his team to the championship against Black Pearl Elite with 19 points 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals. But his greatest contribution as a teammate may have been as a talent scout; Hometown GM Chris Young said that one of Melton's conditions for returning was including former teammate Marcel Burton. It paid off as Burton helped seal the deal in the final, hitting 5 of 5 three-pointers to help lift Hometown to their 14-point victory. That loyalty, tenacity, leadership, and hunger to excel are the makings of a Hometown Favorite. 📝 @aaronsmarter 🎥 @hustle_2k 📸 @creativenlb5