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Providence Crier Player Preview Series: Is Ticket Gaines the Friars Glue Guy?

On the August 30th episode of the Providence Crier Podcast BOC & The Crier drafted PC’s roster for our player preview series. We take a look at each player and what fans may expect this upcoming season.

Ticket Gaines has been closely associated with Kim English throughout his entire college basketball career. In April 2019, Kim English became an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee, replacing Rob Lanier, who had initially recruited Gaines to Knoxville. However, after two seasons at Tennessee, Gaines decided to transfer likely due to a decrease in playing time from his freshman to sophomore year. He followed Kim English to George Mason, where English took on his first head coaching role. Now, with English as the head coach at Providence College, Gaines has once again chosen to join him, much to the delight of Friar fans.

Providence Crier Player Preview Series: Could Garwey Dual Be One-and-Done?

Garwey Dual committed to Providence back in June of 2022 before his stock skyrocketed, and he became one of the top prospects in the 2023 class. Despite not signing in the spring period, he remained committed until our former coach left town, which prompted him to reopen his commitment. Recognizing Dual’s unique talent, Kim English and his staff knew they had to do whatever it took to get him to recommit to the Friars. That he did, and Providence has a unicorn freshman on its roster.

Providence Crier Player Preview Series: Jayden Pierre Drawing Comparisons to McKinley Wright IV

One of the best storylines of the Friar offseason was when Kim English challenged Jayden Pierre to a game of 1-on-1. The stakes were simple. If Jayden Pierre won he could remain in the portal; however, if Coach English won JP would have to take his name out. Kim would walk away with the victory and keep a key member of the team in the process.

Providence Crier Player Preview Series: Is Rafael Castro’s PC’s Biggest Unknown?

Rafael Castro came to PC in 2021 viewed as a potential project. Castro was ranked as a 3-star prospect coming in at #142 in his class per 247sports. Head of scouting for 247sports Jerry Meyer projected Castro as a Power-5 Starter and raved about his frame and athletic ability.

Eli DeLaurier Reclassifies and Joins Friars for Upcoming Season

Well…that was quick. Less than 24 hours after learning that Mississippi State transfer big man Will McNair Jr. was leaving PC (https://theprovidencecrier.com/2023/09/05/will-mcnair-jr-re-enters-transfer-portal/), Kim English and staff have potentially found a frontcourt replacement. Eli DeLaurier of Overtime Elite announced today that he will be reclassifying to the class of 2023 and joining the Friars roster for the upcoming season. DeLaurier’s decision was broken by Joe Tipton of On3.

🎙Eli Delaurier has committed to Providence @DelaurierEli. He will reclassify to 2023. Immediate response from Kim English after void left from McNair. @PCFriarsmbb
pic.twitter.com/1WviXkCIJD
— Rhody Vault (@RhodyVault) September 6, 2023

Will McNair Jr. Re-enters Transfer Portal

The transfer portal never sleeps apparently. Despite the school year having started and official practice right around the corner, we learned that Mississippi State transfer Will McNair Jr. won’t be suiting up for the Friars this season after all. Per Jamie Shaw and On3 the 6-11 265 lb center decided that he will re-enter the transfer portal and leave the PC program.

Former Mississippi State center, and previous Providence commit Will McNair has re-entered the transfer portal @On3sports has learned

The 6-11 grad transfer avg. 3.3 points and 3.3 boards last season for the Bulldogs. He spent 3 years at New Mexico Statehttps://t.co/7UJJfGbaT5 pic.twitter.com/bEnJDHaktI
— Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) September 5, 2023

Conference Realignment and the Big East

Tell me if you’ve heard this before: a bunch of college athletic programs chasing the bag and the supposed greener pastures of major college football while simultaneously ignoring the negatives that surround that move for the rest of their athletic programs.

It’s conference realignment season once again. This time the PAC-12 is the conference that is feeling its wrath. The Conference of Champions is no more, and that is a bummer.

Friars Add 3-Star Wing Ryan Mela to 2024 Recruiting Class

On June 24th, Kim English and staff landed their first high school commitment since taking over at PC in Daquan Davis. A month and some change later, English is back at it securing a commitment from Ryan Mela. Mela is a 6-6 wing from Natick, MA and attends The Newman School in Boston. He also plays AAU ball for the Middlesex Magic and is coming off a tournament win in the Under Armour U17 Tournament.

Crier Recruiting Corner: Del Jones

On Tuesday 2024 point guard Del Jones released his top-8 schools that he is considering and Providence was one of them. Jones, from Arlington, VA and Compass Prep (AZ), is also considering Ole Miss, Tennessee, Oregon, West Virginia, Texas A&M, Clemson, and Arizona St.

Crier Recruiting Corner – Introducing 2024 Guard Daquan Davis

When Kim English took the Providence College head coaching job, he instantly started recruiting. One of the first offers he handed out as head man of the Friars is 2024 guard Daquan Davis. Davis plays at St John’s College High School in DC and is a Baltimore native. This fits a theme of English aggressively recruiting the DMV area. Davis plays for Team Take Over on the AAU circuit, alongside big man Patrick Ngonba II. Both are visiting on an official visit this weekend.