Category Archives: Recruiting News

Recruiting News

Providence College Elite Camp Attendees

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Last year’s Elite Camp was very memorable because there was a lot of talk about a PC ‘Fab 5’ with Abu, Chukwu, Lindsey, Joseph and Terrell. PC coordinator of basketball ops Mike Jackson even set up a phone call for Abu, Chukwu, Joseph, Terrell and 2015 Donovan Mitchell (Lindsey was not at the Elite Camp) with former Michigan Fab Five member, Chris Webber. All of the stops were being pulled out.

Chukwu and Lindsey obviously wound up at PC (and Lindsey was already committed prior to the Elite Camp last summer) but Abu chose NC State, Joseph chose Syracuse and Terrell chose Oklahoma State then URI. Donovan Mitchell wasn’t planning on attending this year’s camp anyway due to a family reunion but I would think Thursday night’s commitment to Louisville solidifies his absence.

Here are the players that I have confirmed will be at this year’s Elite Camp by class and last name (I’ll update this if more names are confirmed):

Watch some video from last season’s Elite Camp courtesy of our friend FriarTV:

Follow me on Twitter @pcbb1917

Recruiting News

2015 Guard Donovan Mitchell Commits to Louisville

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Well this one hurts. There really isn’t much else a coaching staff can do when recruiting a player. Ed Cooley followed Donovan Mitchell around like a shadow beginning in April 2012. When Mitchell broke his wrist last spring the Providence staff still sat and watched Mitchell’s team play while he sat on the bench in street clothes. These guys were serious about Donovan Mitchell and they were the first. Unfortunately they weren’t the last. Mitchell’s huge July this year led to a lot of attention both from the national recruiting media and some blue blood programs.

In the end it’s hard to blame Mitchell for choosing Louisville. They have had a lot of team success including a national championship in 2012 and have a recent history of developing NYC guards. Maybe we all weren’t listening when Mitchell repeatedly talked about wanting a big school or maybe we just wanted to believe he would change his mind and choose the tight knit family atmosphere that Ed Cooley and his staff have worked hard to develop. He told Scout.com’s Evan Daniels “I’m needed here and I love it.” Well he certainly was needed in Friartown but will be heading to Louisville next fall.

Check out Donovan Mitchell’s Friar Crystal Ball page here.

Follow me on Twitter @pcbb1917

Recruiting News

2015 Boo Williams Guard Kenny Williams Has a Top 7

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A few days after Justin Robinson of Boo Williams included the Providence Friars in his freshly cut list, AAU teammate Kenny Williams has included PC in his final 7 of Georgetown, Indiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Providence, VCU and Virginia Tech:

https://twitter.com/kwill_24/status/497421422139310080

Providence got in a bit late with Williams so I’m a little surprised to see the Friars in his final 7 but you never know with recruiting. The scuttlebutt among the national writers is that Williams favors North Carolina but it appears that they are waiting out two other players in front of him and with Donovan Mitchell on an official visit to Louisville right now, Ed Cooley may be setting his sights on his next target if Mitchell pops for one of the other 4 schools in his final 5.

Williams is a lights out shooter who shot 43.7% from deep during the EYBL regular season and playoffs for Boo Williams while averaging 13 ppg.

The Friars are also in the mix for another member of Boo Williams in Chris Clarke who is planning to cut his list down soon as well.

Recruiting News

2015 PG Justin Robinson Cuts List to 6

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Justin Robinson has joined a group of recent  Providence recruits to cut his list of schools down to a more manageable number. Robinson’s final 6 are Creighton, Maryland, Providence, Temple, UNLV and Virginia Tech:

https://twitter.com/5Alive_/status/496455723346579456

Providence has been on Justin Robinson since the winter and they have taken a team approach to his recruitment with a few different coaches keeping in contact with him. Providence was the first major offer for Robinson back in February. Robinson struggled early during the AAU season because he was nursing ankle and wrist injuries but he gutted it out and played through the issues. He plays for the always loaded Boo Williams squad on the EYBL circuit. The crafty left hander transferred from DC powerhouse Montrose Christian last summer to attend St. James School which is coached by the former Montrose Christian staff that Robinson played for his first two years of high school. Robinson led the team to a 22-5 record during the high school season.

Robinson is a pure point guard who is a floor general that can run a team. He is underrated at 119th with his 247sports composite national ranking in my opinion. Robinson recently told me that he will attend the CP3 Elite Camp August 7th-11th and doesn’t plan on any other camps but will begin scheduling visits soon.

Check out Justin Robinson’s Friar Crystal Ball page here.

Follow me on Twitter @pcbb1917

Recruiting News

Recruiting Junkie Alert: Adidas Nations Games on ESPNU Tonight

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The 2014 Adidas Nations began on August 1st and will culminate with the consolation and championship games being broadcast live on ESPNU tonight at 7pm and 9pm, respectively (both EDT). The consolation game will be played at 7pm with Team Europe going up against Team Howard. The championship game will be Team Wall vs. Team Lillard. Both games will be played at Long Beach City College.

There are a handful of Providence recruits that will be in these two games tonight. Here is who to watch for and when to watch them:

Consolation Game 7pm on ESPNU

Team Howard

Championship Game 9pm on ESPNU

Team Lillard

Team Wall

Recruiting News

Donovan Mitchell Trims List to Final 5

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Donovan Mitchell initially said he would cut his list down further at the end of August from the 10 he tweeted out on July 31st.

He must have done a lot of thinking over the last few days because he has already cut the 10 down to 5.

https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/496096893995200512

Mitchell is scheduled to take an unofficial visit to Villanova on August 4th followed by an official visit to Louisville August 7th-8th.

Perhaps this can be seen as good news for Providence fans as maybe the September decision is still in the cards. The sentiment in Friartown is that the longer it takes for Mitchell to decide, the worse it is for Providence’s chances. After having blown up during July some blue bloods got involved but Kansas and Indiana didn’t make the cut which surprises me. Mitchell spoke highly of Norm Roberts (Kansas) and mentioned he wanted to visit Indiana.

Of the schools in the final 5, Mitchell has visited or will have visited all 5 by August 8th so maybe a decision is closer than it appears.

Check out Donovan Mitchell’s Friar Crystal Ball page here.

Follow me on Twitter @pcbb1917

Recruiting News

Catching Up After the July Live Periods

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Now that the July live periods have come and gone the PC staff will be doing the same thing as the players they were on the road watching all month: evaluate where they stand with players.

The coaching staff will have meetings to discuss where they think they stand with players just as those players will have meetings with their families, mentors and coaches. Players have already begun cutting lists and Providence has even made their way onto some of those lists. Here is a catch up of where Providence stands after the three July live evaluation periods:

Lists Cuts and Commitments Elsewhere

2015 Donovan Mitchell

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