Category Archives: Player News

Player News, Quadree Smith, Recruiting News

Providence Freshman Quadree Smith Transferring

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Providence announced that freshman big man Quadree Smith “will not return to the College next season and will pursue other academic options.” Smith was a late addition to Providence’s 2015 recruiting class last summer to help add some size to a frontcourt depleted by the transfer of Paschal Chukwu. Smith played in 19 games, averaging 1.7 points/game and 1.1 rebounds/game. Despite getting just over 5 minutes/game last season, Smith was an excellent teammate and always appeared enthusiastic for his fellow Friars. He quickly became a fan favorite in his short time at Providence.

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Junior Lomomba, Recruiting News

Junior Lomomba Leaving Providence to “Explore Other Opportunities”

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The first scholarship domino has fallen and it comes in the form of redshirt junior Junior Lomomba opting not to return to Providence of his 5th and final year of eligibility. Providence sent out a release with the information on Wednesday. Lomomba came to Friartown after a season at Cleveland State and played 66 games for the Friars. He averaged 3.6 points/game and 1.9 rebounds/game in a Providence uniform. Beyond the stats, Lomomba was a good defender and provided leadership, especially last season as a captain who started all 35 games. The native of Montreal graduate in May.

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Kris Dunn, Player News

Kris Dunn Named NABC Second Team All-American

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The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) released their All-American teams on Monday. Kris Dunn was named to the Second Team along with Perry Ellis (Kansas), Georges Niang (Iowa State), Jakob Poeltl (Utah) and Tyler Ulis (Kentucky). The NABC has been selecting All American teams since 1947. Dunn is the first player from Providence to receive All-American honors from the NABC since Ryan Gomes in 2004. Dunn was named to the NABC’s First Team All- District 5. Other publications that have included Dunn on their All-American teams are USBWA (Second Team), Sports Illustrated (Second Team), Sporting News (Second Team), ESPN.com (Third Team) and USA Today (Third Team). Dunn is also a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award (NPOY), the Oscar Robertson Trophy (NPOY), the Bob Cousy Award (Top PG) and was named the Big East’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. The Big East accolades are for the second straight season.

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Ben Bentil, Player News

Ben Bentil Will Test NBA Draft Waters, Not Sign With Agent

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In more not-so-surprising news, Providence sophomore Ben Bentil will put his hat in the ring for the 2016 NBA Draft, per a report from Evan Daniels of Scout.com. The move shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone after Bentil had a breakout sophomore campaign that garnered him First Team All-Big East honors and the league’s Most Improved Player Award. Bentil will not hire an agent, per the report. The report was confirmed by Bentil via his own Twitter account.

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Ben Bentil, Player News

Ben Bentil is a Finalist for 2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award

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Ben Bentil was named a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award on Friday. He joins teammate Kris Dunn who is a finalist for another positional award presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame — the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. Frank Kaminsky won the inaugural Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. The other finalists are Domantas Sabonis (Gonzaga), A.J. Hammons (Purdue), Jakob Poeltl (Utah) and Joel Bolomboy (Weber State).

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Big East News, Kris Dunn, Player News

Kris Dunn Repeats as Big East Player of the Year

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Kris Dunn has been named the 2016 Big East Player of the Year. Dunn becomes the first Friar to win the award more than once after becoming the first Friar to ever win the award last season when he shared it with Villanova’s Ryan Arcidiacono. Dunn was also named the 2016 Big East Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Big East performer earlier in the week. The news was first reported by UndercoverFriar on Twitter.

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Ben Bentil, Big East News, Kris Dunn, Player News

Kris Dunn is USBWA’s District I Player of the Year, Ben Bentil All-District Performer

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More and more accolades are being heaped onto Providence’s star players. USBWA released their 2015-16 All-District Teams on Tuesday and Kris Dunn was named the District I Player of the Year. Ben Bentil was on the All-District I Team. District I is made up of schools in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Full disclosure, I am a USBWA member and voter. 

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