Live from Springfield, MA: Jaylen Harrell in the NEPSAC AA Finals

A look at Harrell and the young core, as Oswin Erhunmwunse and Ryan Mela are named Big East All-Freshman

I headed to Springfield on Sunday afternoon for the NEPSAC AA championship to see Providence commit Jaylen Harrell and CATS Academy take on Worcester Academy and their highly regarded point guard, Amir Jenkins. WA knocked off top-seeded Cushing Academy on Saturday, setting the stage for a Providence pledge to take on a PC recruit in the title game.

Before we break that one down, about half an hour before the NEPSAC AA title game it was announced that both Oswin Erhunmwunse and Ryan Mela were named to the Big East All-Freshman team. This marked the first time that two Friars were named All-Freshman since 2006.

Vaulted into significant minutes, Erhunmwunse met any reasonable expectation in year one after reclassifying to the class of 2024 last spring. He struggled to find his footing over the first two months of the season, but once Big East play began, the center from Benin City, Nigeria became one of the best shot blockers and lob threats in the league — regardless of class. In Big East games, Erhunmwunse averaged 7.5 points and 5.9 rebounds, while blocking 41 shots in 20 games. He shot 73% from the field.

Mela was twice named Big East Freshman of the Week and put up averages of 7.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in league play. The Providence staff discovered Mela the summer before his senior year of high school and pounced quickly before any other high majors had gotten deeply involved. Mela went from a freshman not on the radar of many to one of the most productive first-year players in the conference.

In an otherwise disappointing season, the Friars look to have a pair of building blocks in this freshman class.

Which leads us to Sunday afternoon…

Jaylen Harrell and CATS Academy come up just short against Worcester in the NEPSAC AA title game