2022 Record: 21-12 (13-7)
Head Coach: Kim English (Career Record 34-29) (First season at PC)
Projected Rotation:
PG: Jayden Pierre (2.5 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 1.9 Ast)
SG: Garwey Dual
SF: Devin Carter (13.0 Pts, 4.9 Reb, 2.5 Ast)
PF: Bryce Hopkins (15.8 Pts, 8.5 Reb, 2.3 Ast)
C: Josh Oduro (George Mason 15.6 Pts, 7.9 Reb, 2.6 Ast)
6: SG Davonte Gaines (George Mason 7.3 Pts, 6.1 Reb, 1.2 Ast)
7: SF Justyn Fernandez (George Mason 4.1 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 0.5 Ast)
8: PF Rafael Castro (1.8 Pts, 2.1 Reb, 0.3 Ast)
9: SG Corey Floyd Jr (2.6 Pts, 1.2 Reb, 0.4 Ast)
10: SF Donovan Santoro
11: C Eli DeLaurier
12: SF Richard Barron
The leading returning scorer for the Friars this season is 6-7 forward Bryce Hopkins. He had a terrific season with the Friars really exploding onto the scene after playing very minimally during his freshman season with Kentucky. He really showed that he can be an elite player at the high major level. In addition to being reliable on the interior offensively, he also defends at a high level. He has also showcased the ability to stretch the floor and knock down the deep ball. Providence also added George Mason big man transfer Josh Oduro who followed head coach Kim English from George Mason to Providence. Oduro has been a high level big man for 4 seasons at George Mason and will be going into his 5th year of CBB this season. Oduro is high intensity big man that is elite on both ends of the floor. He will make an immediate impact with the Friars this season being one of their leaders and best player.
Some additional returning players for the Friars are PG Jayden Pierre and SG Devin Carter. Pierre will take on a new role this upcoming season as the primary starting point guard. It will be a new role for him, but one that he is very capable of filling. Pierre showed flashes of elite play during his freshman season. He almost chose to leave Providence one English was hired but later opted to return. He could be one of the surprise players in the Big East next season. Devin Carter is an elite on ball defender. He did surprise some by scoring the ball as well as he did last season. Carter has room to improve with perimeter shooting but he still made a solid impact on the offensive end last season starting all 33 games. The remaining returners to the Friars team are PF Rafael Castro and SG Corey Floyd Jr. Floyd is a former 4 star recruit and previously was at UConn. He hasn’t really come into his own yet but he is still immensely talented.
Kim English also brought 2 more George Mason transfers with him to Providence in SG Davonte Gaines and SF Justyn Fernandez. Gaines has great length for the position at 6-7 and 180lbs. He has also proven to be a reliable shooter from beyond the arc. Gaines who also previously spent time at Tennessee also rebounds at an elite level. He should make an immediate impact with the Friars next season in more of a 6th man role. Justyn Fernandez is a former 4 star recruit who showed flashes of what he could become as a freshman at George Mason. He is a very athletic player who can make an impact on both sides of the ball off the bench for the Friars. His numbers should even be better than they were last season at Mason even though there is a rise in competition from the A10 to the Big East.
Providence also signed 4 freshman as part of the 2023 class. The class was headlined by SG Garwey Dual who is an elite athletic guard and should even be in line to start for the Friars this season. Dual was ranked as the #47 player in the 247 sports high school players rankings. Providence also signed unranked SFs Richard Barron from Chicago and Donovan Santoro from California. The last signee in the 2023 class for the Friars was big man Eli DeLaurier. He was originally part of the 2024 class but reclassed to 2023 and signed with the Friars this summer.
Providence should be a decent team this upcoming season, but it can be difficult for teams to gel sometimes with first year head coaches. Kim English has a chance to be a very special head coach but he’s still unproven with a 34-29 career record. Providence should be on the bubble as we get deeper into the season. They also project to be in the 5th-6th range in the Big East standings next season in a very top heavy conference. It could be a wakeup call early in league play for English but he should be able to settle into it.