Well, with football's signing day behind us and the men's basketball team preparing for the NEC Tournament, the time has come to start turning a little bit of the focus toward how Robert Morris will fill out the Class of 2014.
This year's recruiting class is going to be a little bit of an adventure, largely because the future status of suspended freshmen Jeremiah Worthem and Britton Lee is unknown. If they return to Robert Morris in January 2015, they'll be back on scholarship, even if they take a redshirt season. I haven't spoken with Worthem or Lee, but I'm getting a little bit of a sense from others that Worthem would like to return to RMU, if possible. I haven't gotten any sort of a gauge on Lee, but considering how close they are, I would imagine they wouldn't mind sticking together.
That all remains to be seen. Even if they want to return, they have to be welcomed back, and that's up to RMU and Andy Toole. However, if they don't return to Robert Morris, the scholarships will be available and likely need to be filled prior to the 2014-2015 season.
For now, we'll operate on the assumption that Worthem and Lee are returning and save their scholarship spots. Prior to the season, Robert Morris had 12 of a maximum 13 scholarship players following the departure of Lijah Thompson. With Karvel Anderson and Anthony Myers-Pate graduating and Desjuan Newton and Mike McFadden no longer part of the team, Robert Morris has five scholarships to fill for 2014-15.
Two of those five scholarships are already taken. Guard Jafar Kinsey and center Andre Frederick have signed letters of intent and will be on campus as early as the summer. With those spots filled, here's an early look at a potential depth chart with their 2014-15 classes.
PG - Kavon Stewart (So.), Jafar Kinsey (Fr.), Britton Lee (So. - susp.)
SG - Charles Oliver (Sr.)
3G - David Appolon (Sr.)
F - Lucky Jones (Sr.), Aaron Tate (Jr.), Jeremiah Worthem (So. - susp.)
C - Stephan Hawkins (Jr.), Andre Frederick (Fr.)
After Kinsey and Frederick signed, Toole told me that two points of emphasis for him in filling out the class were a perimeter scorer to help offset the loss of Anderson plus additional size.
I would imagine that one of the pick-ups would be a true junior college forward that can play the forward spot and allow Lucky Jones to slide down to the wing, a true shooting guard who can score (likely a junior college pick-up, but you never know), and a versatile player, whether it's a forward who can shoot and score or a guard who can rebound and defend multiple positions.
So with that in mind, here are some names to watch moving forward. Other names are likely to pop up as the season winds down and RMU hits the road, especially at the junior college level.
SCORING GUARDS
Taylor Stafford (Eastern Arizona Junior College - Arizona) - Originally from Duluth, Minnesota, Stafford is a scorer. He's averaging 24.9 points per game to go with 4.4 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game. But the stat of note for RMU - he's knocking down 41.1 percent of his 3-point shots. He's not shy about shooting. He's had 15 or more shots from the field in 22 of his team's 30 games this season. He picked up an offer from RMU a couple weeks ago, so consider the interest obe very serious. Evansville has also offered. He would have two years of eligibility.
Devaugntah Williams (Missouri State-West Plains - Missouri) - A versatile scorer, Williams isn't quite the 3-point threat that Anderson or even Stafford is, but he can still score. At 6-foot-3, he's able to score inside and out. He's currently averaging 13.1 points per game while shooting 35.8 percent from 3-point range. Robert Morris offered him back in the summer, and his recruiting might take him past RMU. He recently picked up an offer from Texas Tech to go along with offers from Texas-San Antonio, Southern Miss, Iona and Kent State.
Marcquise Reed (Capital Christian School - Maryland) - The 6-foot-2, 175 pound guard has had some explosive performances this season, with three games where he scored over 40 points. He's averaging more than 30 points per game and scores a variety of ways, including the 3-pointer and drives to the basket. He's down to four schools: RMU, Quinnipiac, Fairfield and Northeastern.
Muhammad-Ali Abdur Rahkman (Allentown Central Catholic - Pennsylvania) - A local publication reported that RMU assistant Joe Gallo checked in with Abdur Rahkman earlier in February, so the interest is still there. The 6-foot-3, 170 pound guard is averaging 22.5 points per game, 6 rebounds per game and 3.9 assists per game. He's shooting 36 percent on 3-point shots, so he might have a little work to do there, but he's certainly a versatile scorer. A number of mid-majors are involved with him, according to Rivals' recruiting expert Alex Kline.
VERSATILE ATHLETES
Marques Townes (St. Joseph's Metuchen - New Jersey) - A bouncy, athletic 6-foot-4 guard/wing, Townes is an intriguing overall athlete. Normally just a basketball player, he stepped onto the football field for the first time this fall as a senior and excelled. At about 215 pounds, his size and athleticism made him an outstanding linebacker. He even drew Division I interest, but he's committed to playing basketball in college.
Robert Morris had initially offered but had cooled as of early January, probably in large part because there wasn't much room. But with the roster changes, Townes is one to watch as there is a pre-established relationship. FDU, Niagara and St. Peter's are the schools interested the most right now.
Earvin Morris (Tallahassee Community College - Florida) - A 6-foot-5, 190-pound swingman, Morris is a scoring threat and could be a nice replacement for Desjuan Newton. He's averaging 14.4 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game and 2.0 assists per game. He's capable of stretching the court, as he's more selective on 3-point shots but knocking them down at a 46.9 percent clip. Morris played one year at Kent State before transferring.
POWER FORWARDS
Will Ransom (Daytona State College - Florida) - Ransom transferred to Daytona State College after one year at Paris Junior College in Texas. He's not a scorer, averaging just 5 points per game, but he's hauling in 7.2 rebounds per game. At 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, he'd bring a significant increase in size down low for RMU. He would have two years of eligibility.
Elijah Minnie (Lincoln Park Charter - Pennsylvania) - The definition of a
"stretch four", Minnie is a 6-foot-8 swingman who can score inside and
out. He plays well above the rim, but he can also step out and hit long
range shots. He's essentially a power forward with the potential to progress into an NBA-sized small forward or wing.
He's on here because he's a local product, but early guess is he doesn't end up in Moon at the end. RMU and Duquesne have offered, among almost a dozen others. Competition will be stiff if RMU is seriously interested. The latest buzz? Memphis has picked up its interest in him.
Justin Jamison (Missouri State-West Plains - Missouri) - Jamison's on the list because of his connections to Robert Morris, as grandfather David Jamison is the school's provost. A former minor league pitcher, the 6-foot-9, 260-pound Jamison has been on RMU's radar for quite some time. This is first year back in game action, and he's averaging 10.6 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game.
But he's likely going to be out of RMU's reach. Pitt has offered, as have Oregon, Kent State, Texas Christian, New Mexico and Texas Tech, among others.
This year's recruiting class is going to be a little bit of an adventure, largely because the future status of suspended freshmen Jeremiah Worthem and Britton Lee is unknown. If they return to Robert Morris in January 2015, they'll be back on scholarship, even if they take a redshirt season. I haven't spoken with Worthem or Lee, but I'm getting a little bit of a sense from others that Worthem would like to return to RMU, if possible. I haven't gotten any sort of a gauge on Lee, but considering how close they are, I would imagine they wouldn't mind sticking together.
That all remains to be seen. Even if they want to return, they have to be welcomed back, and that's up to RMU and Andy Toole. However, if they don't return to Robert Morris, the scholarships will be available and likely need to be filled prior to the 2014-2015 season.
For now, we'll operate on the assumption that Worthem and Lee are returning and save their scholarship spots. Prior to the season, Robert Morris had 12 of a maximum 13 scholarship players following the departure of Lijah Thompson. With Karvel Anderson and Anthony Myers-Pate graduating and Desjuan Newton and Mike McFadden no longer part of the team, Robert Morris has five scholarships to fill for 2014-15.
Two of those five scholarships are already taken. Guard Jafar Kinsey and center Andre Frederick have signed letters of intent and will be on campus as early as the summer. With those spots filled, here's an early look at a potential depth chart with their 2014-15 classes.
PG - Kavon Stewart (So.), Jafar Kinsey (Fr.), Britton Lee (So. - susp.)
SG - Charles Oliver (Sr.)
3G - David Appolon (Sr.)
F - Lucky Jones (Sr.), Aaron Tate (Jr.), Jeremiah Worthem (So. - susp.)
C - Stephan Hawkins (Jr.), Andre Frederick (Fr.)
After Kinsey and Frederick signed, Toole told me that two points of emphasis for him in filling out the class were a perimeter scorer to help offset the loss of Anderson plus additional size.
I would imagine that one of the pick-ups would be a true junior college forward that can play the forward spot and allow Lucky Jones to slide down to the wing, a true shooting guard who can score (likely a junior college pick-up, but you never know), and a versatile player, whether it's a forward who can shoot and score or a guard who can rebound and defend multiple positions.
So with that in mind, here are some names to watch moving forward. Other names are likely to pop up as the season winds down and RMU hits the road, especially at the junior college level.
SCORING GUARDS
Taylor Stafford (Eastern Arizona Junior College - Arizona) - Originally from Duluth, Minnesota, Stafford is a scorer. He's averaging 24.9 points per game to go with 4.4 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game. But the stat of note for RMU - he's knocking down 41.1 percent of his 3-point shots. He's not shy about shooting. He's had 15 or more shots from the field in 22 of his team's 30 games this season. He picked up an offer from RMU a couple weeks ago, so consider the interest obe very serious. Evansville has also offered. He would have two years of eligibility.
Devaugntah Williams (Missouri State-West Plains - Missouri) - A versatile scorer, Williams isn't quite the 3-point threat that Anderson or even Stafford is, but he can still score. At 6-foot-3, he's able to score inside and out. He's currently averaging 13.1 points per game while shooting 35.8 percent from 3-point range. Robert Morris offered him back in the summer, and his recruiting might take him past RMU. He recently picked up an offer from Texas Tech to go along with offers from Texas-San Antonio, Southern Miss, Iona and Kent State.
Marcquise Reed (Capital Christian School - Maryland) - The 6-foot-2, 175 pound guard has had some explosive performances this season, with three games where he scored over 40 points. He's averaging more than 30 points per game and scores a variety of ways, including the 3-pointer and drives to the basket. He's down to four schools: RMU, Quinnipiac, Fairfield and Northeastern.
Muhammad-Ali Abdur Rahkman (Allentown Central Catholic - Pennsylvania) - A local publication reported that RMU assistant Joe Gallo checked in with Abdur Rahkman earlier in February, so the interest is still there. The 6-foot-3, 170 pound guard is averaging 22.5 points per game, 6 rebounds per game and 3.9 assists per game. He's shooting 36 percent on 3-point shots, so he might have a little work to do there, but he's certainly a versatile scorer. A number of mid-majors are involved with him, according to Rivals' recruiting expert Alex Kline.
VERSATILE ATHLETES
Marques Townes (St. Joseph's Metuchen - New Jersey) - A bouncy, athletic 6-foot-4 guard/wing, Townes is an intriguing overall athlete. Normally just a basketball player, he stepped onto the football field for the first time this fall as a senior and excelled. At about 215 pounds, his size and athleticism made him an outstanding linebacker. He even drew Division I interest, but he's committed to playing basketball in college.
Robert Morris had initially offered but had cooled as of early January, probably in large part because there wasn't much room. But with the roster changes, Townes is one to watch as there is a pre-established relationship. FDU, Niagara and St. Peter's are the schools interested the most right now.
Earvin Morris (Tallahassee Community College - Florida) - A 6-foot-5, 190-pound swingman, Morris is a scoring threat and could be a nice replacement for Desjuan Newton. He's averaging 14.4 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game and 2.0 assists per game. He's capable of stretching the court, as he's more selective on 3-point shots but knocking them down at a 46.9 percent clip. Morris played one year at Kent State before transferring.
POWER FORWARDS
Will Ransom (Daytona State College - Florida) - Ransom transferred to Daytona State College after one year at Paris Junior College in Texas. He's not a scorer, averaging just 5 points per game, but he's hauling in 7.2 rebounds per game. At 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, he'd bring a significant increase in size down low for RMU. He would have two years of eligibility.
Elijah Minnie (Lincoln Park Charter - Pennsylvania) - The definition of a
"stretch four", Minnie is a 6-foot-8 swingman who can score inside and
out. He plays well above the rim, but he can also step out and hit long
range shots. He's essentially a power forward with the potential to progress into an NBA-sized small forward or wing.
He's on here because he's a local product, but early guess is he doesn't end up in Moon at the end. RMU and Duquesne have offered, among almost a dozen others. Competition will be stiff if RMU is seriously interested. The latest buzz? Memphis has picked up its interest in him.
Justin Jamison (Missouri State-West Plains - Missouri) - Jamison's on the list because of his connections to Robert Morris, as grandfather David Jamison is the school's provost. A former minor league pitcher, the 6-foot-9, 260-pound Jamison has been on RMU's radar for quite some time. This is first year back in game action, and he's averaging 10.6 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game.
But he's likely going to be out of RMU's reach. Pitt has offered, as have Oregon, Kent State, Texas Christian, New Mexico and Texas Tech, among others.
