Welcome to my team preview series for 2024-25. Each day between now and the start of the college basketball season, I will preview one team or conference, both on Instagram (@collegehoopsoutlet) and through an article here. The preview will go in-depth on the roster build of the team, my expectations for their upcoming season, and the state of the program under their current head coach.
Providence (Projected: 6th in BE)
It was a solid first season for Kim English at Providence, with the third-year head coach leading the team to a 21-14 record. English will need to freshen up the roster a bit with a couple of key players out the door, but it’s a team that can compete for an NCAA Tournament bid.
Bryce Hopkins (16 ppg, 9 rpg) is the key returner for this Friars squad, a dominant big man whose junior season was cut short at 14 games due to injury. Hopkins’ return gives the Friars an elite frontcourt player, one that can make plays on both ends of the floor. Other frontcourt returners for the Friars include sophomore center Anton Bonke and redshirt freshman Eli DeLaurier.
Providence’s backcourt returns three players, all of whom played solid minutes last season. Jayden Pierre (10 ppg) started 31 games for the Friars last season, a great scorer and a solid shooter (36.6% 3P). Corey Floyd Jr. (5 ppg) and Rich Barron (4 ppg) both started a handful of games for the Friars last season and return as well. With a good amount of consistency and room still to grow in this backcourt, I like what it can become.
Five players left the Friars this offseason, most notably star guard Devin Carter (20 ppg, 9 rpg, 4 apg). Valuable seniors Josh Oduro (16 ppg, 8 rpg) and Ticket Gaines (9 ppg) exhausted their eligibility following the season. Rising underclassmen Garwey Dual (3 ppg) and Rafael Castro (2 ppg) hit the transfer portal to round out the Friars’ departures.
Kim English brought in five transfers this offseason in hopes to offset the losses. The lone transfer pickup in the frontcourt is Christ Essandoko (8 ppg, 6 rpg at St. Joseph’s). Essandoko, a French 7-footer, showed out in his freshman season at St. Joe’s, becoming the team’s starting center and putting up good numbers. He should find good minutes with the Friars, possibly seeing a sophomore season surge.
Four guards transfer in for English, all of whom should see the court for the Friars this season. Jabri Abdur-Rahim (12 ppg at Georgia) is the most traveled of the lot, a four-year high-major player who has spent the last three seasons at Georgia. Bensley Joseph (10 ppg at Miami FL) transfers in as an option at point guard, a good passer and solid shooter last season while starting 27 games for Miami. Wesley Cardet Jr. (19 pog, 5 rpg at Chicago State) is another transfer in the backcourt, a high volume scorer last season at Chicago State, including a 30-point performance in an upset over Northwestern. The final transfer brought in by English comes from his old school, in sophomore guard Justyn Fernandez (4 ppg at George Mason in 2023).
Two high school recruits round out the roster for Kim English’s year two squad. Oswin Erhunmwunse (4*, NAT 43) is the big name, a 2025 re-class guy who gives the Friars another option inside. Erhunmwunse has high potential, but as a re-class may be a guy who we don’t see the best of until 2025-26. Forward Ryan Mela (3*, NAT 268) completes the roster, another depth piece in the frontcourt.
Year two could be a big one for Kim English. Narrowly missing out on the tournament, English will likely get a pass from just about everyone after dealing with the mid-season injury of Bryce Hopkins. Now, Hopkins is back and the backcourt has a great mix of proven transfers and rising returners. Missing the tournament wouldn’t necessarily be a disappointment, but you can be sure that’s what the Friars will be aiming for.
Bryce Hopkins getting close to the form he was in last season before his injury will be crucial to this team’s success. My X-factor for the Friars is Jayden Pierre though. Last season as a sophomore, Pierre took a large jump and I think we can expect another jump in year three at Providence. A breakout from Pierre combined with solid play by the trio of transfer guards while give the Friars a backcourt full of different options.
The Big East should seek vengeance in 2024-25 after receiving just three bids in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The conference as a whole should be on a similar talent level as last season, although a lot less separation between teams one and eleven. I’ve got the Friars placed right in the middle of the standings at 6th in the Big East.