Randolph Morris won't go far from home for the next stop on his NBA journey.

The former Landmark Christian star has agreed to a two-year contract with the Hawks, according to two people familiar with the situation.

Morris, a 6-foot-11, 270-pound center/power forward has agreed to the NBA minimum salary, which is about $1.7 million for the two years.

The formal announcement of his signing, as well as that of veteran free agent swingman Maurice Evans, is expected as earlier as today.

Morris spent two days in the Hawks' rookie and free agent minicamp two weeks ago working out with, and against, former No. 1 overall draft pick Kwame Brown, who agreed to contract terms with Detroit. Morris did not accompany the Hawks to Salt Lake City for the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league. However, he apparently made a strong enough impression for the team to offer him a contract.

Morris played his first two seasons in the NBA with the New York Knicks, having logged limited minutes as a reserve. He's played in just 23 NBA games, starting twice last season, averaging 2.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 9.8 minutes in his career.

A one-time AAU Atlanta Celtics teammate of Hawks free agent forward Josh Smith and Orlando All-Star and Olympic team starter Dwight Howard, Morris took a different path to the NBA than the former first-round picks.

Morris played his junior season at Kentucky as an NBA free agent. He declared for the 2005 NBA draft after his freshman season, but was not selected and had not signed with an agent.

Morris, however, was forced to sit out the first 14 games of his sophomore season because of an NCAA penalty related to contact with agent.

Due to a provision in the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, Morris was prohibited from re-entering the draft, thus the free-agent status he held throughout his junior season at Kentucky.

A first-team All-SEC pick as a junior, when he averaged 16.2 points, 7.8 rebound and 2.1 blocks, Morris signed with the Knicks.

Morris will help solidify a Hawks' frontcourt rotation that has been woefully thin the past three years.

Al Horford held down the starting job at center as a rookie last season and was backed up by Zaza Pachulia. The Hawks had no one else log significant minutes at center.

Morris is capable of working at both center and power forward for the Hawks, who still have to sort out Smith's future. The restricted free agent is still in the midst of slow-paced negotiations with the team on a potential contract extension.