Robert Morris capped its 2014 recruiting class with a local splash.
The Colonials secured the commitments of Lincoln Park (Pa.) standouts Elijah Minnie and Ryan Skovranko on Sunday. The 6-foot-9, 210-pound Minnie was Robert Morris' chief target at forward over the last few months. The coaching staff had been on him since he was a freshman, but they really picked up the push in the last year and then again once the calendar hit 2014.
Why was Minnie such a target? Because his athleticism allows him to play above the rim and as a defensive stalwart. He's long and rangy, enabling him to be an excellent shot blocker at the high school level. He can also stretch the floor as an offensive presence, though his game still needs refinement. That said, he's hit 3-pointers when open and can also soar above the rim for impressive put-back dunks.
Minnie will start out as an athletic 4-man for Robert Morris, but he could improve his game enough to slide out to the wing where Lucky Jones is currently having success (when numbers don't force him inside) and where Russell Johnson made his home. He averaged just under 16 points per game on a loaded state championship team.
For highlights of Minnie, check this link out.
Skovranko is a 6-foot-7, 180-pound wing who plays more like a true guard. Skovranko will probably start out at the 3-spot, as he's a better ball-handler and pure shooter. It's possible that he could add some weight and move inside, or he could simply continue to refine his outside game and be a big guard. Skovranko averaged around 13 points per game on Lincoln Park's state championship team. Despite previous scholarship offers, there's the possibility that Skovranko will end up as a preferred walk-on, which would allow RMU to add one more scholarship player. But as of right now, RMU has 13 players for 13 scholarship spots.
With these two additions, here's what a potential depth chart might look like for RMU:
PG - Kavon Stewart (So.), Jafar Kinsey (Fr.)
SG - Charles Oliver (Sr.), David Appolon (Sr.), Marcquise Reed (Fr.)
G/F - Lucky Jones (Sr.), Rodney Pryor (So.), Ryan Skovranko (Fr.)
F - Aaron Tate (Jr.), Lionel Gomis (Jr.), Elijah Minnie (Fr.)
C - Stephan Hawkins (Jr.), Andre Frederick (Fr.)
There are a lot of moving parts and flexibility on that roster, too. We'll see how this all pans out.
The Colonials secured the commitments of Lincoln Park (Pa.) standouts Elijah Minnie and Ryan Skovranko on Sunday. The 6-foot-9, 210-pound Minnie was Robert Morris' chief target at forward over the last few months. The coaching staff had been on him since he was a freshman, but they really picked up the push in the last year and then again once the calendar hit 2014.
Why was Minnie such a target? Because his athleticism allows him to play above the rim and as a defensive stalwart. He's long and rangy, enabling him to be an excellent shot blocker at the high school level. He can also stretch the floor as an offensive presence, though his game still needs refinement. That said, he's hit 3-pointers when open and can also soar above the rim for impressive put-back dunks.
Minnie will start out as an athletic 4-man for Robert Morris, but he could improve his game enough to slide out to the wing where Lucky Jones is currently having success (when numbers don't force him inside) and where Russell Johnson made his home. He averaged just under 16 points per game on a loaded state championship team.
For highlights of Minnie, check this link out.
Skovranko is a 6-foot-7, 180-pound wing who plays more like a true guard. Skovranko will probably start out at the 3-spot, as he's a better ball-handler and pure shooter. It's possible that he could add some weight and move inside, or he could simply continue to refine his outside game and be a big guard. Skovranko averaged around 13 points per game on Lincoln Park's state championship team. Despite previous scholarship offers, there's the possibility that Skovranko will end up as a preferred walk-on, which would allow RMU to add one more scholarship player. But as of right now, RMU has 13 players for 13 scholarship spots.
With these two additions, here's what a potential depth chart might look like for RMU:
PG - Kavon Stewart (So.), Jafar Kinsey (Fr.)
SG - Charles Oliver (Sr.), David Appolon (Sr.), Marcquise Reed (Fr.)
G/F - Lucky Jones (Sr.), Rodney Pryor (So.), Ryan Skovranko (Fr.)
F - Aaron Tate (Jr.), Lionel Gomis (Jr.), Elijah Minnie (Fr.)
C - Stephan Hawkins (Jr.), Andre Frederick (Fr.)
There are a lot of moving parts and flexibility on that roster, too. We'll see how this all pans out.
