Recruiting News

Getting to Know 2017 Simon Wright

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With the Friars getting a recent commitment from a member of the class of 2017 in Javon Taylor, let’s take a look at another member of the rising sophomore class with a Providence offer: Simon Wright.

Providence was the first school to offer 2017 Simon Wright from Minnesota. Wright plays for the Howard Pulley (Nike EYBL) team on the grassroots circuit which is the same program that Providence recruits Alex Illikainen, Amir Coffey and Jarvis Johnson all play for. While Illikainen and Johnson are somewhat recent additions to the Howard Pulley program, Wright has “known Amir since I was in kindergarten. Him and my older brother have played on the same team since Amir was in 1st grade, and he is also my high school teammate.” Coffey is a member of the class of 2016.

Being a rising sophomore, Wright played mostly with the 15U Howard Pulley team during the AAU season but he did play up with the 17U EYBL team for two tournaments including the AAU Super Showcase in Louisville during the final July live period. “I feel my [AAU] season went really well. I played my best ball in July when it counted.” Wright has grown over the last year and tells me he is now 6’6 and 190 lbs and said “I see myself playing either the 2 or 3 [in college].”

Continue reading Getting to Know 2017 Simon Wright →

Links of the Day

#pcbb Links of the Day 8/13/14

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Alumni Events

A Great Weekend with Friends of Friar Basketball

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This past weekend I attended the 2nd Annual Friends of Friar Basketball Charity Golf Outing at the Cranston Country Club. After raising over $13,000 last year at the inaugural golf outing, the 2014 version appears to have been even more successful. The final numbers are not in as of this writing, but I was told that it should be somewhere between $13,500 and $15,000. That is especially impressive when you consider that the total cost of the outing is only $125! Another big part of this year’s success was the number of former players who attended. There were players from all era’s going back to the 1970’s like Nehru King and moving to present day with the likes of Ryan Gomes and Jeff Xavier.

The night before the golf was played Ed and Nurys Cooley hosted over 100 former players and, thanks to the FOFB board members, PC supporters at their lovely home for a BBQ. I was lucky enough to get invited and it was an amazing experience. Coach Cooley was thrilled to be hosting all the former players and spoke strongly about how the Big East Championship in 2014 wouldn’t have been possible without the players who came before last year’s team. Since Day 1 as the Friars’ head coach, Cooley has been a big proponent of welcoming former players back and trying make them feel welcome and part of the current program.

That’s also the mission of the Friends of Friar Basketball organization. On their website, the 501c3 organization says “our mission is to bring together members of the Friar Basketball family, including past players, coaches and supporters, to bolster the community within the Friar family through networking, mentoring, and charitable donations.” I would say that last weekend nailed all the check boxes.

The golf outing was very well run and all the players had a great day on the course and under the tent for dinner afterwards. It was awesome to witness the camaraderie that exists among all the former Friar players across all generations. I look forward to attending the 3rd annual event in August 2015.

Follow me on Twitter @pcbb1917 or email me at mhopkins@pcbb1917.com

General News

Update: Two Freshmen NOT Cleared to Travel to Italy

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UPDATE: The social media posts previously linked below have been removed and the Providence Journal’sKevin McNamara is reporting that nothing has changed regarding the two freshmen. KMac added that they are on the bus because they will be heading to New Jersey to practice. The team is flying out of Newark.

Links of the Day

#pcbb Links of the Day 8/12/14

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Recruiting News

Alex Owens Announces Commitment

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Alex Owens becomes the second player in the class of 2015 to commit to Ed Cooley. Owens spent the weekend on campus and attended the Elite Camp on Saturday. He flew home Monday afternoon but not before announcing his commitment via Twitter:

Owens announced his top 3 schools on July 27th and Providence is the only visit he took since making that announcement. The other schools he was considering were Missouri and Central Florida. He had previously verbally committed to UCF in the fall of 2013. Owens adds another big body to the Friar frontcourt and currently joins PC’s other commit in the class of 2015 Ryan Fazekas.

The next step for Providence is to add a guard or two to the mix in this class and they will have 3 scholarships to do so. Don’t be surprised if they pocket one of those scholarships to try to find a transfer in the winter or spring.

Check out Alex Owen’s Friar Crystal Ball page here.

Follow me on Twitter @pcbb1917

Bryce Cotton

Happy Birthday Bryce Cotton!

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It’s probably been a bit of a whirlwind for Bryce Cotton since he graduated from Providence College in mid-May. Since then he has traveled all across the country working out for NBA teams, signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs, played in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and, most recently, got married!

Today Bryce Cotton turns 22 so I’m sending my birthday wishes to Mr. Cotton and I hope that 22 is an even better year than 21!

 

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