In the age of NIL and not having as many restrictions on player movement, NCAA has essentially become the Wild West. The transfer portal should expect to see over a thousand entries with players looking for new homes this upcoming season.
The Friars figure to be very active in the portal looking to replace athletes like Josh Oduro, Ticket Gaines, and most likely Devin Carter. PC has also seen players of their own enter the portal with junior Rafael Castro, and freshman Garwey Dual and Donovan Santoro submitting their names.
We will take a look at a bevy of players the Friars are involved with or someone we think could be great fits on the team.
Bensley Joseph- SO G, Miami
Friar fans should be familiar with the name. Out of high school Bensley Joseph was considering the Friars before ultimately picking the Hurricanes. PC didn’t have enough ball handlers last year and Joseph would be a nice addition. The Friars have expressed interest in Joseph but expect other programs, including Big East teams, to be involved as well.
Qadir Copeland- SO G, Syracuse
Qadir Copeland was a name many Cuse fans didn’t want to see enter the portal. The Philly native has great size from the guard position and his highlight real is full of plays you don’t expect a kid in college to be making in the game. He has good bounce and uses his length to make some wizardry layups in traffic. He also was second on the team in assists in only his sophomore year. Expect a long line for Copeland.
Dion Brown- SO G, UMBC
Dion Brown exploded on the scene in his sophomore campaign more than doubling his point production from his freshman year. He also still managed to shoot 35% from three on 4 attempts per game. The MA native attended PC’s NIT game against BC and certainly seems to fit Kim English’s system.
Jordan Sears- Jr G, UT Martin
Jordan Sears is one of the best scoring guards in the nation. Despite being 5-11, Sears is a certified bucket getter, being able to finish at the rim and hit the three at a 43% clip. He also is a good floor general. According to Joe Tipton Sears has received interest from the Friars.
Update- Jordan Sears cut his list to 6 and the Friars are not included.
Gibson Jimerson- Jr G, St. Louis
The wing from St. Louis has one year of eligibility remaining. If you wanted to find an offensive prototype for the English system, it is him. He is a career 40% three point shooter & 85% from the charity stripe. He averaged 16 points last season.
This will be a recruitment where likely the entire Eastern seaboard is in on him.
Tarris Reed Jr.- SO F, Michigan
Reed Jr. recently entered the portal, and we’ll see if the Dusty May hire gets him to reconsider. He started 31 games this year and went from averaging 3.4 points as a freshman to 9 points as a sophomore. He also went from averaging 3.9 rebounds as a freshman to 7.2 rebounds. Most important, he blocks 1.4 blocks/game.
Jalen Leach – Sr G, Fairfield
Leach has one year of eligibility remaining. The grad transfer from New York shot 35% from 3 and averaged 16.2 points this past season, a cosmic jump from 6.1 points the year prior. Maybe Brycen Goodine could put in a good word?
Jason Rivera Torres- Fr G/F, Vanderbilt
Torres is from the Bronx and had an okay season, averaging 6 points and 3 rebounds. The fit for English is peculiar to me, given he shot 24% from deep.
Sam Alexis – SO F/C, Chattanooga
Alexis averaged 11 and 9 with 2 blocks on the season his sophomore year. He is an elite defensive player, being named 1st team All SoCon defense. Alexis is working on setting up a visit to Providence
Jerry Deng – Fr F, Hampton
Deng, from Norcross, Georgia, is a truly intriguing 3/4 prospect. At 6’9, he averaged 39% from deep, scored 10 points on 20 minutes a game and poured in 4 rebounds.
He has a visit set up with Florida State, and I can’t imagine a better fit for a player than Hamilton and a lengthy 4 man like Deng.
Gavin Griffiths- Fr G/F, Rutgers
Griffiths was a guy the Friars were recruiting out of high school before he ultimately chose the Scarlet Knights. Griffiths has nice size and athleticism and is known for his shooting prowess despite not having the best percentages this past season. His shooting splits are a bit concerning 32.4%/28.2%/60% but he was a true freshman and it probably didn’t help that he played on a Rutgers team that really struggled on offense. He’d be a great add to the program.
Jason Edwards- SO G, North Texas
A JUCO star in 2023 Jason Edwards made the move to division 1 basketball with ease, scoring 19 .1 ppg and shot 42.5% from the floor and 35% from three on over 7 attempts per game. Edwards figures to be one of the better players in the portal thus far after earning first team all-AAC honors last year.
Lynn Greer-Jr G, St. Joe’s
Originally starting at Dayton Philly native Lynn Green transferred to St. Joe’s and played there the last two seasons. Green was fourth in the pecking order on a guard heavy Hawks squad but did lead them in assists this past season.
Pharrell Payne- SO F, Minnesota
First off might be the best name of those on Friars portal radar, Pharrell Payne put up solid numbers mainly off the bench for the Golden Gophers last season. Payne shot 60% from the floor last season and provides nice rim protection with 1.4 bpg last year. Friars felt the burden of not having a reliable big off the bench and while I’m sure Payne is looking for a more expanded role at his next stop the Friars would be wise to pursue.
Alston Mason- Jr G, Missouri St
Alston Mason originally started off his career at Oklahoma before spending the last two years at Missouri St. He has seen his three-point percentage rise in each season he’s played with the attempts also going up. Mason also provides solid rebounding and assist numbers, expect him to be a coveted player on the market.
BJ Freeman- Jr G/F, UW-Milwaukee
BJ Freeman will be one of the more sought-after players in the portal with the heavy hitters already in pursuit. Freeman is known for his scoring but provides good rebounding and playmaking. Friar fans probably remember when he went off for 33 points at the AMP this past November. Expect an uphill battle for PC for his services with schools like Kentucky in the mix and the fact he will explore professional options as well.
Providence 2024 Recruiting Articles
2024 Portal Needs – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/03/24/2024-providence-crier-portal-needs/
Garwey Dual Transfers – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/03/22/garwey-dual-reportedly-enters-transfer-portal-analyzing-the-impact/
Crier Recruiting Corner, Introducing Jaylen Harrell – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/02/20/crier-recruiting-corner-introducing-2025-wing-jaylen-harrell/
Crier Recruiting Corner – Introducing Jamier Jones – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/02/19/crier-recruiting-corner-taking-a-look-at-oak-ridges-jamier-jones-25/
The Week of the Frontcourt – Turning a Weakness into a Strength – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/01/14/the-week-of-the-frontcourt-turning-a-weakness-into-a-strength/
Providence Lands 2025 Big Oswin Erhunmwunse – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/01/11/providence-lands-elite-big-man-oswin-erhunmwunse-analyzing-the-commitment/
Introducing 7’2 JuCo Recruit Anton Bonke –https://theprovidencecrier.com/2023/12/19/crier-recruiting-corner-introducing-72-center-anton-bonke/
Recruiting Rankings Matter, Part 2: https://theprovidencecrier.com/2023/12/06/recruiting-rankings-matter-part-2-how-far-is-the-roster-talent-from-championship-quality/
Recruiting Rankings Matter, Part 1: https://theprovidencecrier.com/2023/11/29/the-providence-crier-recruiting-feature-recruiting-rankings-matter-part-1/
Rankings Do Matter: Analyzing the Final Four Rosters by Recruiting Rankings – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2021/04/03/stars-in-fact-do-matter-analyzing-the-final-4-rosters-relative-to-recruiting-rankings/
2025 Recruiting Primer, Version 3.0 – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2023/04/30/2025-providence-college-high-school-recruiting-primer-version-1-0/
2024 Recruiting Primer, Version 8.0 – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2023/03/27/providence-college-basketball-recruiting-class-of-2024/
2024 Luke Bamgboye – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2023/09/18/crier-recruiting-corner-introducing-2024-big-man-luke-bamgboye/
Eli DeLaurier Commits to Providence & Reclassifies – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2023/09/06/eli-delaurier-reclassifies-and-joins-friars-for-upcoming-season/
Ryan Mela Commits to Providence –https://theprovidencecrier.com/2023/08/01/friars-add-3-star-wing-ryan-mela-to-2024-recruiting-class/
Jam packed @ProvidenceCrier podcast
Highlights:
- NCAA Tournament and PC Snub
- NIT game against Boston College
- All things transfer portal
- #TheReturn
Thank you.
Great read! Thank you.