Over the past six months, The Crier and I have applauded the Providence staff for completely turning over the frontcourt roster and improving it in terms of both quality and quantity. Gone are the days where we had to rely on Josh Oduro to stay out of foul trouble while also needing him to play 30-35 minutes due to a lack of options behind him. One of the weaknesses from last year (frontcourt depth) is now arguably its biggest strength.
The additions of Essandoko, Bonke, and Erhunmwunse will lead to Providence throwing well-rested bodies at its opposition in the frontcourt. Think of hockey line shifts. No one big will average more than twenty five minutes a game, in my opinion, and I personally believe that’s a good thing. While the belief is that Essandoko has the edge in starting, does Oswin possess too much raw talent, athleticism, and potential to come off the bench? That’s a question I can’t wait to see answered.
Each big offers something unique. Essandoko is the experienced one of the group coming from the A10 and entering into his third year of college. His combination of bulk and lightness on his feet makes him a tough guard in the half court. Anton Bonke is the tallest of the group, possessing measurables in height, length, and wingspan that 99% of the college five men lack. Matt Painter has pictures of Bonke hanging in his office, I’ve heard.
And then there is Big Oswin. Oswin is by far the most athletic of the group. What he lacks in experience (Essandoko) and height (Bonke), he makes up for in terms of raw athleticism. His leaping ability on both the offensive and defensive end is something we haven’t had in Providence in quite some time. He is the very definition of explosive, and his talent may force the hand of English to play him over the two other bigs.
I’ve long said I am not a fan of reclassifications in high school unless the prospect is truly elite. While Oswin is raw and will inevitably show his inexperience on the court, his athleticism is the definition of elite, and Providence is the beneficiary of him enrolling early.
English wants to run an NBA offense. We all know that. The modern NBA offense is built around having shooters all over the court, being heavily reliant on the pick and roll game in the half court, and a five man that can rim run and be a consistent lob threat. Who better than Oswin for that role? Even though his half court offensive game isn’t developed yet, he is probably the best big on the roster when it comes to diving to the rim off a screen, catching lobs from his teammates, and finishing in traffic.
Defensively, Oswin uses his leaping ability to be an eraser. English will probably get frustrated with him not being assignment sound, and that concerns me as a potential major hurdle to him getting quality minutes, but English should also evaluate living with those youthful mistakes if he is offsetting them by protecting the rim better than anybody else on the roster. Oswin has the athleticism to recover on defense and make up for a player getting a step or two on him and his teammates.
The shortcomings of Oswin are obvious even to the most casual Friar fan: a lack of a polished post game a la Oduro and inexperience at the college level. There will be times when bigger centers use their girth and strength to bully him on the low block, but that is when English can make the hook for Christ or Anton. Again, English has options. This is a luxury for Kim.
If I was a gambling man, I think Essandoko gets the nod to start the season, but it wouldn’t shock me if Oswin develops quicker than anticipated and English either swaps him into the starting line-up or starts him at the 4 next to Essandoko or Bonke. A frontcourt of BHop at the 3, Oswin at the 4, and Essandoko/Bonke at the 5 may not be the most aesthetically pleasing on offense, but they would be a terror on the defensive end and on the glass. It’s something to ponder and a zig to the zag of teams going small in college.
Not many college squads will be able to match the size that Providence has, and I’d like to see English lean into that even if it strays away from his preferred offensive style. It can cause foul troubles for the opposition in a way that we just couldn’t do last year.
If Oswin can own his role as hustle man, rim runner, and defensive eraser, he will have an incredibly successful career. Think about Kenneth Faried and Montrezl Harell who made a living in college gobbling up rebounds, exerting maximum energy on each possession, and finishing above the rim even though they didn’t possess stereotypical college or NBA height at the five. That can be Oswin this year.
We don’t need him to be Josh Oduro. He doesn’t need to shoot three’s or beat his man in the low post with fancy footwork. If he owns his role and develops quickly, he can become a starter sooner rather than later. The talent is too much to ignore.
Providence Crier Player Preview Articles
Eli DeLaurier – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/10/17/crier-player-preview-series-what-role-does-eli-delaurier-play-in-crowded-frontcourt/
Christ Essandoko – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/10/02/providence-crier-player-preview-christ-essandoko-the-next-starting-5-man-at-pc/
Jayden Pierre – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/09/25/providence-crier-player-preview-jayden-pierre-all-conference-season-upcoming/
Corey Floyd Jr. – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/09/19/corey-floyd-jr-player-preview-trust-the-process/
Anton Bonke – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/09/10/anton-bonke-international-man-of-mystery/
Justyn Fernandez – https://theprovidencecrier.com/2024/09/09/providence-crier-player-preview-is-the-hype-too-early-for-justyn-fernandez/
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