Ryan Mela verbally committed to the Providence Friars, officially joining Daquan Davis as the second member of Kim English’s 2024 recruiting class. Mela is from nearby Natick, Massachusetts (just 45 minutes from campus) and plays for Middlesex Magic in the AAU circuit and the Newman School for High School ball, just recently leading the Magic to a UAA Championship.

https://twitter.com/ryan_mela/status/1686496711059902464

Mela can affect the game in a number of ways, doing everything thing well and having the versatility that suits the type of style that Kim English wants to play. English wants 1 through 4 to be interchangeable with all four players being able to pass, dribble, and shoot. Mela’s game fits that stylistically and his 6’6” – 6’7” lengthy frame should fit right into what the Friars are looking to do offensively.

“They play a special way which is how I play. The offense is a lot of spacing, five out, with everyone being able to pass, dribble, shoot which fits my game perfectly. The style of play is perfect for how I play.”

– Ryan Mela ’24

Daquan Davis continues to try and help the Friars get any and every commitment possible and might need to be paid as an additional recruiter in the future. Immediately upon Mela receiving an offer from Provider, Davis sent him a text telling him, “You know what to do.” It has to feel good knowing that not only do the coaches want you to come to their school but incoming players want you there as well. No need to worry about fitting in with other commits when they communicate that they want to play with you before you even make a decision on where you’re going to school.

Mela chose the Friars over the following offers from other schools: Richmond, Vermont, UMBC, UMass, Siena, Davidson, Yale, Buffalo, Towson, Stonehill, Maine, Holy Cross, BU, Colgate, Bucknell, Dartmouth, & Loyola Maryland.

Here’s a little taste of Ryan Mela from his performance in Las Vegas last month at the Sportradar Showdown.

His ability to finish strong in unorthodox fashions is what really stands out from these highlights. He has the strength to finish at the rim through contact but it’s how he gets to the rim that gives him that separation. He possesses a quick burst off of both his jab step and crossover when his defender tries to get up on him and working on a bit of a quicker release on his shot would make those moves even more lethal. He has good instincts and anticipation on the defensive end, feasting off steals in the passing lanes and is more than happy to make the extra pass when he gets into the lane. He really does do a little bit of everything. As of right now, with little to almost no thought put into it, he is The Swiss Army Man.

Welcome to Friartown Ryan!