Car wont start

1990 300zx 40,000 miles new jdm engine, I ran into a puddle of water about half a foot deep and the it suddenly raised to about a foot high I immediatly turned off the car and put it in neutral. But water got into the starter but not high enough to reach the intake. No water got into the engine I didnt attempt to turn it on the next day I tried to jump start it ut when I did the attery would get really hot and melt the jumpstart handle. I had it towed and when they lifted it no water came out of the exhaust. There are no signs of water being inside the engine there was no water found inside the intakes. I replaced the starter and it still wont start it just clicks like if it was ther starter gone bad, what could be wrong?