Robert Morris Set to Retain High Upside Forward

It is safe to say that Robert Morris head coach Andy Toole and his staff have already had more success in retaining players this offseason than last year when they brought back just one scholarship player.

Forward Samuel Obenjo is the latest player that decided to return to Robert Morris for another season, he told Robert Morris Sports Now.

Obenjo joins fellow freshman Darius Livingston Jr. as players that Toole will build next season’s roster around.

Robert Morris forward Samuel Obenjo dunks the ball prior to the Colonials game against Geneva — Ed Thompson // Pittsburgh Sports Now

Obenjo was a late addition to the Class of 2025 recruiting class and was not expected to have much of a role as a freshman.

That all changed when the Colonials went through a rough defensive spell at the start of Horizon League play, especially in the frontcourt.

While the starting forwards DeSean Goode and Nikolaos Chitikoudis, both of which announced their intentions of entering the transfer portal, bounced back on the defensive end of the floor down the stretch part of the season, it was the play from players such Obenjo that really helped straighten the ship.

Obenjo’s impact off of the bench, especially on defense and on the boards, led to him getting more and more minutes by the end of the season with his highest usage coming against Cleveland State in late February when he played 26 minutes.

He averaged just 1.7 points and 1.4 rebounds through his freshman season but was not tasked with being a main scorer or rebounder when he was on the floor. He did manage to shoot 60% from the floor, but mainly made his money near the rim when he did decide to attack.

Obenjo will likely need to improve offensively while also bulking up a bit for him to become a key player for Robert Morris next season as a sophomore but if his days with the Swedish U18 National Team say anything, he is more than capable of becoming that type of player for the Colonials.

During the 2024 FIBA Eurobasket U18 Championships, Obenjo averaged 14.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

With Obenjo and Livingston, along with incoming freshman Josh Jackson, Robert Morris currently has three players confirmed to be on next year’s roster but there is still a chance for fellow contributors such as Ta’Zir Smith and Eddie Cooke III to return as well.