Last week, 2025 blue chip center Oswin Erhunmwunse made the decision to reclassify into the 2024 class and join the 2024-2025 Providence Friars. While this had been speculated on for several months, the announcement was met with a jolt of enthusiasm amongst the Friar fanbase as summer workouts commence.
We detail the various reasons below why this enrollment is so vital to the 2024-2025 Friars and Providence basketball program as a whole.
Providence had an All-Conference big man in Josh Oduro in 2023-2024, but did not have anything close to a Big East level backup behind him. While some were quick to blame English, let’s not forget he had his back-up big in tow in Will McNair Jr. Providence had a nice 1-2 punch in Oduro and McNair Jr. before he bolted from the program at the 11th hour. McNair averaged 23 minutes, 8 points, and 5 rebounds at Kansas State, starting 19 games. The McNair Jr. departure caught everybody by surprise, and he left so close to the season starting that English couldn’t find a reliable body behind Oduro. Rafael Castro, while sometimes having highlight reel plays, was not at that time a Big East caliber player, and it showed unfortunately. Comparing McNair’s stats to Castro’s, Castro averaged 9 minutes per game and 3 points. McNair Jr. staying on the roster is another one of those “what ifs”, but that’s a convo for a different day.
The Butler game was the epitome of the frontcourt depth issues. With Oduro missing the game due to the birth of his son, it was apparent 5 minutes in that Castro couldn’t play extended minutes. With that harsh truth exposing itself early, English went super small, sometimes having guards like Barron, Gaines, and Floyd Jr. manning the frontcourt. While you admire the tenacity of those three, they shouldn’t be playing the five at the Big East level. It’s not sustainable.
By having Oswin reclassify, Providence won’t run into frontcourt depth issues. Now, they have 3 legitimate center options in Christ Essandoko, Anton Bonke, and Oswin Erhunmwunse. If a player misses time due to foul trouble or injury (knock on wood), Providence has the bodies behind whomever is starting out of that trio and can rely upon them to at least be serviceable. The bar was set so low last year that you didn’t even have a player behind Oduro who could play during competitive moments of the game. English has remedied that.
Oswin reclassifying is also important because I’m certain every single blue blood would continue to pursue him throughout all of 2024 and 2025. While Oswin never wavered in his commitment, asking a player to stay committed to a school for more than a year in the NIL era, especially when his stock is soaring, is a tough task. Throughout this spring and early summer AAU season, recruiting analysts all over were making proclamations that Oswin may be the best defensive big in the 2025 class. What program wouldn’t want that?
Now, English has him in the fold and doesn’t have to fight the daily negative recruiting and backdoor offers that I’m certain would take place (if they weren’t already). If Oswin stayed in the 2025 class, we all know a Kansas or Kentucky would come calling, and Friar fans would be sweating until the day he enrolled. Now, we can breathe easy.
Oswin enrolling early also fills a need on the roster. While I love Essandoko as the true five on this roster, and Bonke’s height and shooting stroke are enticing, neither of those two have the athleticism and defensive abilities that Oswin possesses. He brings something to this roster that nobody else has. While Oswin is enrolling early, there’s a world where he forces himself onto the court early because he can instantly impact the game on both ends.
Essandoko provides the bulk at the five, along with college experience, but needs to show he can be THE guy at the 5 for Providence. He started 14 of 25 games played and averaged 21 minutes a game. You can’t rely on him at this juncture to play Oduro-like minutes until he shows you he is healthy and conditioned enough to do so. He also was injured a portion of last year, so English will likely proceed with caution and on a minutes restriction with him.
Bonke has done nothing at the major college level to warrant penciling him in for 15-20 minutes next year, and I fear PC fans are falling victim to the shiny new object syndrome. While you can’t teach his height and he does physically look ready, he is not far removed from being a rower from an obscure island in the South Pacific. Patience is needed with him.
I state all this not to throw cold water on the 5 position, Essandoko, and Bonke, but more so to highlight the importance of Oswin reclassifying. He may be walking into a more wide open competition than perceived, with him playing serious minutes Day 1 not out of the realm of possibility. The good thing is that the frontcourt has the depth to be patient with all 3 of these players. They each have a minimum of 3 years of eligibility remaining. Music to the ears of Friar fans.
Lastly, if Oswin performs above expectations this year, there’s another Putnam Science big in 2026 recruit Ben Ahmed who will be watching his former teammate closely. Providence has positioned itself well with Ahmed, and Oswin having a positive first year and experience in Friartown will do wonders in the Ahmed recruitment.
In summary, while the Oswin reclassification was expected, please don’t overlook how impactful his enrolling is to the 2024-2025 Friars.
English wanted 13 dudes, and he now has them.
Providence Recruiting Articles
The Pursuit for a Point Guard: 2025 PG Recruiting – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/05/22/the-pursuit-of-a-point-guard-the-missing-piece-of-the-2025-class/#more-9325
2026 Recruiting Primer – Version 1.0 – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/05/08/the-providence-crier-2026-recruiting-primer-version-1-0/
Wesley Cardet Jr. Commits to Providence: https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/04/21/wesley-cardet-jr-commits-to-providence-friars-get-their-scoring-guard/
Jabri Abdur Rahim Commits to Providence – Analyzing the Impact – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/04/18/wing-jabri-abdur-rahim-joins-the-friar-family-analyzing-the-impact/
Crier Recruiting Corner – Introducing BJ Freeman & Anthony Dell’Orso – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/04/11/crier-portal-spotlight-closer-look-at-wings-bj-freeman-anthony-dellorso/
Analyzing the Impact of Chris Essandoko – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/04/10/the-return-of-christ-one-time-friar-commit-transfers-to-providence/
Crier Recruiting Corner – Introducing Chattanooga Forward Sam Alexis – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/04/05/crier-recruiting-corner-introducing-chattanooga-big-sam-alexis/
Crier Recruiting Corner – Introducing Miami Guard Bensley Joseph – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/04/02/crier-portal-guide-spotlight-miami-guard-bensley-joseph/
Crier Recruiting Corner – Introducing Gavin Griffiths – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/04/02/crier-recruiting-corner-introducing-rutgers-freshman-wing-gavin-griffiths/
2024 Portal Guide – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/03/26/providence-crier-portal-guide/
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/
BOC great article on Oswin’s importance. I have an unrelated issue with English. Why did he enter the team in the NIT if he would not play Devin Carter. He set them up for defeat. Not
right. Rick Pitino had it right. He didn’t have the Johnnies play in the NIT.