The Friars were very active in the portal this offseason and perhaps you’ve forgotten about the incoming freshman from Massachusetts Ryan Mela. Before news that Oswin Erhunmwunse reclassified from 2025 to enroll this year at PC, the Friars only anticipated one incoming freshman on scholarship. That would be Ryan Mela.
Mela is from Natick, MA and played for The Newman School and the Middlesex Magic for his AAU career. He stands at 6-6 and is known for his ability to attack the basket and his shooting prowess (although he shot it at a lower percentage as a senior). Mela was only the 286th ranked prospect in 247’s composite rankings; however he can be a diamond in the rough for PC like many other Middlesex Magic players in the past were for other programs.
The question is does he have any role with a deep Friar’s team in his rookie campaign?
On the surface, it doesnt appear Mela would crack the rotation and could be in for a redshirt year. With portal adds like Wesley Cardet and Jabri Abdur-Rahim plus returnees Richard Barron, Corey Floyd Jr, and Justyn Fernandez, there could be no room at the inn. The wing is arguably the deepest position on the PC roster in 2024-2025.
What Mela has going for him is the fact that, like Richard Barron, he may be unheralded but Kim English and staff clearly see something in him that would fit with what they are trying to do on the court. Going into last year when we wrote player previews, we were unsure if Barron would have a role with the Friars. The injury to Bryce Hopkins would open the door for Barron to get good minutes throughout the season, leading him to a first-team all-freshman honor in the Big East.
When you watch tape on Mela you can tell he is a crafty finisher at the rim and plays with a high basketball IQ. His AAU program, the Middlesex Magic, are known for having guys like Pat Connaughton, Tyler Kolek, Cormac Ryan, and Duncan Robinson who know how to play. Mela’s skillset could lend him to some minutes in his freshman season but even if he doesnt have much of a role in year one, Friar fans should be excited with what he can bring to the program in the years to come.
BOC: Mela reminds me of those tough Nova guards who are fundamentally sound, super gritty, and produce despite sometimes being overlooked on the high school recruiting trail. If Mela stays patient and develops, he could become a nuisance in the Big East as an upperclassman.
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