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The 2023 Recruiting Primer, Version 3.0: Providence Friars

The Crier released Version 1 of this article in January and Version 2 a few months later in the Spring. Suffice to say, a lot has changed in almost 6 months.

After winning the Big East Conference and making a Sweet 16 run, the Providence program is in unchartered waters when it comes to national coverage. Momentum has never been better for the Providence Friars to land blue chip prospects that fit within Cooley’s culture.

Cooley started off the 2023 class with a home run of a commitment in 2023 guard Garwey Dual. Dual, relatively unknown nationally at the time of commitment, is now a consensus Top 75 4 star recruit after a dominant AAU season. Dual is just the start of the 2023 class as Providence looks to build off an incredible 2021-2022 season. We broke down Dual’s commitment and his future impact to the Friar program here: https://theprovidencecrier.com/2022/09/01/deep-dive-analysis-of-2023-providence-commit-garwey-dual/

With Dual in the fold, we analyze team needs for the 2023 class, identify the key recruits Providence is targeting, and provide our predictions for who the Friars ultimately land.

Drew Fielder Commits to Friars – Analyzing the Impact

We wrote here (https://theprovidencecrier.com/2022/09/15/drew-fielder-official-visit-preview-friars-looking-to-land-another-horchler/#more-5089) about Drew Fielder officially visiting this past weekend.

Well, the visit must have went well. Fielder commits to the Friars, joining Garwey Dual as commitments in the Class of 2023. Both play at Southern California Academy and have exploded this past AAU season.

Breaking: 2023 four-star Drew Fielder has committed to Providence, he tells @On3Recruits.

"I chose Providence because of my relationship with coach (Ed) Cooley and the culture they have built there.”

Story: https://t.co/ygk4I0Vo3c pic.twitter.com/MI7VQhyCgH
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) September 19, 2022

We break down how the Friars won this recruitment and what this means for the Providence Friars.

Drew Fielder Official Visit Preview – Friars Looking to Land Another Horchler

Drew Fielder, the 6’9 stretch 4 man from Idaho, will be visiting Providence on an official visit this upcoming weekend. Fielder’s offer list has exponentially grown after this most recent AAU season, and he will continue to become a more nationally recognized name as he heads into his senior year at Southern California Academy.

2023 big Drew Fielder is en route to Providence for his official visit today, he told @Stockrisers. Ed Cooley was in California this week at Southern California Academy to see Fielder prior to his visit.
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) September 15, 2022

Below, we break down the competition for the Friars in his recruitment, as well as discuss what he can do on the court. Lastly, we touch upon the player fit with this Providence program.

Friars Hosting Two Recruits this Weekend

This past weekend was a big one for campuses across the country with the first weekend of college football getting underway. For the Friars, the next two weekends prove to be big, at least in terms of their 2023 recruiting class. PC will host three recruits for official visits over the next two weekends. The first being this upcoming weekend as the Friars will have both Curtis Williams Jr and Michael Nwoko on campus starting Friday.

We break down each player and what they could mean to the Friar program.

Deep Dive Analysis of 2023 Providence Commit Garwey Dual

Lost amidst the BBQ’s and leisurely pace of the summer months was an under the radar commitment from 2023 combo guard Garwey Dual. This commitment didn’t generate nearly the energy and excitement that it likely should have amongst the Friar fanbase, but make no mistake: this is an instant impact recruit. Dual has burst onto the scene over the past few months, and it appears Cooley and staff uncovered another gem before Dual’s national profile skyrocketed.

Below, we break down the recruitment of Dual, what he brings to the Friars, and where his game translates to the collegiate level.

2023 Garwey Dual highlights from the Pangos All-American Festival! @garweypual_2023 @PangosAACamp

🎥: @Prep_Plug pic.twitter.com/QlT1RGtAUS
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) August 30, 2022

Is Anything Sacred?: Amica perceived to win naming rights for The Dunk

The rumors have been swirling for months. Dunkin Donuts naming rights deal with the RI Convention Center Authority expired on June 30th. RICCA has been hearing proposals from various corporations since May and it now appears that Amica is the winning bid. The days of the Friars playing at the Dunk is over.

https://www.wpri.com/target-12/the-dunk-no-more-amica-set-to-take-over-naming-rights/

I’ve sat on this article for a few weeks now because I didn’t want to believe it to be true. If Amica taking out a trademark for the Amica Mutual Pavilion wasn’t enough proof today’s scenes at 1 LaSalle Sq says it all, no more Dunk.

The Dunkin’ Donuts Center sign is officially off @ABC6 pic.twitter.com/XblDWQmgF6
— Olivia DaRocha (@oliviadarocha) August 24, 2022

How One Offseason Has Laid the Groundwork for a Final Four Run

Everybody has heard the slight murmurs in the background:

“This was a fluke season by Providence”

“Flash in the pan”

“Everybody is gone. I hope Friar fans enjoyed this lucky run”

Let everybody enjoy making these comments. With what Ed Cooley did this past season and into the offseason, the trajectory of this program has been completely altered. Providence is about to enter into a level of consistency and performance we have not yet seen under Ed Cooley, and I cannot wait.

Bryce Hopkins Transfers to Providence – Analyzing the Impact

Former Top 50 4 Star recruit Bryce Hopkins from Chicago decided to depart the Kentucky Wildcats and transfer to Providence College. Like Locke and Floyd Jr., Hopkins considered Providence out of high school, but ultimately enrolled elsewhere. After playing spot minutes on a loaded Kentucky squad this past year, the big bodied 3/undersized 4 will now be donning the Black and White.

Below, we analyze the impact of Hopkins enrolling at Providence and what it means for the immediate and long term.

Friars Add Former Husky and PC Legacy- Corey Floyd Jr

Last June, the Big East conference got rid of the 20+ year rule of disallowing intra-conference transfers. The Friars are the first school to take advantage, as former UConn guard Corey Floyd Jr announced he’d be transferring to Providence Sunday afternoon.

The theme of this offseason appears to be transfers seeing the light and turning back to choosing Providence as their college destination after initially choosing a different school for a variety of reasons. Much like Noah Locke (and potentially another recruit to be named later), Floyd Jr. has decided to transfer to Providence.

Friars Strike Again in The Portal- Land Devin Carter & Clifton Moore

It’s been a great Easter weekend for Friar fans. After landing Louisville transfer Noah Locke on Friday, Cooley and staff got two more pledges to Friartown on Sunday. Both Clifton Moore and Devin Carter visited campus this weekend and both announced their intentions to play for Providence.