Friars Land Yet Another Top Freshman Recruit

by Connor Whalen ‘28 on October 23, 2025

Sports

Providence College men’s basketball head coach Kim English showed he has no intention of taking his foot off the gas when it was announced that four-star recruit Aiden Derkack ’30 will commit to PC. Derkack represents the first of the 2030 freshman class and the first offseason addition in anticipation of the 2026–27 season. The new recruit lands just outside the top 50 in Top247’s national rankings, demonstrating just how groundbreaking this news is for PC men’s basketball. That slots Derkack just narrowly outside the top 10 recruits in PC’s history, a further testament to English’s pull when it comes to bringing in exciting, high-profile talent.

Derkack does not necessarily stand out for any particular aspect of his game, but he is a well-rounded player who looks like he has the capacity to succeed at the college level. His athleticism, while not necessarily eye-opening, shows on both ends of the floor. Defensively, the guard should excel, and his offensive game is multifaceted. He can finish at the rim, possesses a good handle, is a skilled playmaker, and even has an impressive post-game. At 6’5” and 195 pounds, he plays bigger than his size and is not afraid to be physical, though he may need to put on some weight as he enters college given his slightly slender build. The one weakness in his game is his perimeter shooting, though there are no glaring issues with his shooting form, suggesting there could be room for improvement.

The addition of Derkack adds even more youth to a Friars roster that already has plenty. The starting lineup this year is certain to be senior-heavy, and those seniors will be sorely missed after this season, but the future nonetheless looks bright. Derkack has the opportunity to team up with the talented rising sophomore class of Jamier Jones ’29, Jaylen Harrell ’29, Stefan Vaaks ’29, and Peteris Pinnis ’29, while the Friars hope to retain other players like Daquan Davis ’28, Oswin Erhunmwunse ’28, and Ryan Mela ’28.

English’s ability to pull in big-time talent—whether in the transfer portal or via freshman recruiting—has been yet again proven via the addition of Derkack. Adding Jones, Derkack, Erhunmwunse, and Harrell deserves recognition in and of itself in terms of sheer talent and scouts’ ratings. English must now prove that his team can put everything together on the court; in the next year or two, especially with the talent he has brought in, expectations will only get higher, and he will face greater scrutiny. This year, the team has been predicted in several polls to land in No. 4–5in the Big East, giving them a potential NCAA tournament bid. The next two years, especially with the young talent English has lured to PC—most importantly, Jones and, now, Derkack—will be crucial in the English era.

Introducing the 2025-26 Providence Men’s Basketball

by Connor Whalen ‘28 on October 9, 2025

Sports

If you paid attention to Kim English’s upgrades to his team this offseason, you are already fully aware of the excitement this year in Friartown. If not, this article will help familiarize you with this year’s team, as I will lay out what I predict to be the team’s rotation to start the year.

Jason Edwards ’G26 and Jaylin Sellers ’G26 are guaranteed to feature in the backcourt together as the two most dynamic scoring threats on English’s roster. Edwards should see the most field goal attempts on the team, able to create his own looks and shoot off the dribble. Sellers is a capable secondary scoring option and should alleviate some of Edwards’ offensive responsibility. Corey Floyd Jr. ’26 is another expected starter and, as the only returning senior on the team, his leadership and experience will be crucial on and off the court. Floyd will serve as another primary ball-handler and should get open looks from behind the arc with defenses focused heavily on Edwards and Sellers. This backcourt is outrageously explosive and athletic, and, on the defensive end, will be a tough matchup for opposing offenses.

Duncan Powell ’G26 looks suited to slide into the Friars’ power forward role. At 6’8” and 240 pounds, Powell gives the team another rebounder and a physical defender. He should serve as the third scoring option for the team, mostly cashing in on catch-and-shoot looks and post-up situations. Next to Powell, sophomore returnee Oswin Erhunmwunse ’28 looks set to round out the starting five at the center position. Standing at 6”10’ and weighing in at 235 pounds, he showed promise in his freshman year as a rebounder and shot-blocker. With one year of experience under his belt, and seemingly having put on some muscle, Erhunmwunse’s development could be crucial to this team’s success on defense.

Jamier Jones ’29 will receive significant minutes from day one; the freshman is one of the most exciting prospects to ever commit to PC, and his athleticism and raw talent gives English a burst of energy off the bench. He could even start for this team by March if all the hype around him truly was real. Stefan Vaaks ’29 is another intriguing freshman set to come off the bench to begin the season. Scouts and analysts have praised English’s move to bring in Vaaks, a potential hidden gem from Estonia. He is a three-level scorer and an able ball-handler, and his background as a pro in Europe makes him NCAA ready off the bat. Daquan Davis ’28 is a gifted playmaker and rugged defender off the bench. He provides backup to Sellers and Edwards as a ball-handler and should get solid minutes. Ryan Mela ’27 returns, giving English the perfect depth option at the small forward /power forward position. Mela displayed impressive playmaking and rebounding skills in his freshman season, offering this team a unique skillset off the bench. Lastly, Cole Hargrove ’26 provides cover for Erhunmwunse at the center position. Measuring at 6’8” and 245 pounds, Hargrove is certain to play tough defense and give the Friars an energy boost off the bench.

As a result of Jones’ arrival as one of the top recruits in PC history—and all the noise surrounding it—Jaylen Harrell’s ’29 commitment naturally, but undeservedly, lived in its shadow. Harrell is an exceptionally well-rounded player, averaging 22.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game in his senior year of high school. The two-time Massachusetts player of the year can score anywhere on the court, whether in the post, off the dribble, or on catch-and-shoot looks. As of right now, the Friars have a really deep team loaded with tons of talent, and I have Harrell getting little to no minutes to start the year. I do not expect that to remain true by the end of the year, as I truly expect the freshman to earn himself meaningful, regular minutes. Richard Barron ’28 returns and adds wing depth as a capable shooter on the bench. Peteris Pinnis ’29, a 7’0” force from Latvia, is another center option, and a huge body that could see bench minutes if Erhunmwunse and Hargrove get in early foul trouble. Much of his game still looks somewhat raw, but as a freshman,with his size, he could certainly carve out a bench role and be an important player in future years. Nilivan Daniels ’28 returns after making last year’s team as a walk-on, and the always-smiling campus favorite’s presence adds a hard-working, energetic guard to the end of the rotation. Lastly, Jack Williams ’G26, a transfer from UCLA that managed their team, gives the team a veteran presence and smart basketball mind.

These are only my predictions, and it remains to be seen how English will line his team up to start the year. The rotation will also change throughout the year, as many of the players have yet to see NCAA action and remain somewhat unknown. At any rate, this team is very athletic and will be fun to watch, and is genuinely poised to compete for a spot in the NCAA tournament in March.

Was the Celtics’ Offseason Helpful or Harmful?

by Pippa Jones ’28 and Sarah Wolff ’28 on October 9, 2025

Sports

Providence College Investigates: NBA

Helpful

With the new roster cuts for the Boston Celtics, fans are speculating whether this will benefit or hurt the team. Some fans are outraged while others are excited to see how this controversial decision will play out. Although controversial, these roster cuts and new additions to the team will end up being successful. Miles Norris being waived has caused many to question coach Joe Mazzula’s intentions for the upcoming 2025–2026 season. Although these iffy trades bring instability within the team, rookie RJ Luis, a shooting guard and an alumni of St. John’s University, is a promising contribution to the team. Not only did Luis have a successful college career with being named the Big East Player of the Year and to the Big East first team, he was also a second team All American. Luis also was notable for making accolades for the St. John’s team, averaging 18.2 points per game. Another notable rookie is second round draft, 23-year-old Amari Williams. Williams was originally overseas from Nottingham, England and was recruited to go to the University of Kentucky. As a center, Williams averaged 10.9 points per game and proved to be a large part of the team’s success in the 2024–2025 season. He was the second player in SEC history to have at least 375 points. His 115 assists contributed to the team’s tie for the lead in assists. Before Kentucky, Williams played at the University of Drexel from 2020–2024. Even though these additions to the team create a new team dynamic, with the Celtics’ successful 2024 season, some new additions may create new opportunities for further success for the team. Also, these new rookies bring fresh legs and a youthful incoming group. With these trades, it will allow the team to continue to improve and highlight the strength of the team regardless of their new players. This strength is going to be seen through these new rookies as they develop with the team and prove their worth as players.

Harmful

As much as Boston fans, including myself, want to believe that the Celtics 2025–2026 team is built for another strong playoff run, the red flags indicating the opposite are hard to ignore. The most obvious problem for the Celtics is Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury. His recovery timeline is largely unknown, and without Tatum on the floor, the Celtics will face some struggles in their attempt to replicate the success of the past few years. Asking Jaylen Brown to shoulder the bulk of scoring will eventually wear him down. Beyond health, the Celtics are also facing a substantial amount of financial strain. Their prior spending essentially released them into heavy luxury tax obligations and fairly restricted flexibility within the roster. To ease the burden, the front office was forced to make some costly roster trims, such as trading Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday. Unrelated to the luxury tax, yet a devastating departure for Boston, is Al Horford. This unbelievable veteran big man was not just a steady rotation player. He was a defensive beast, a leader in the locker room and on the court, and a mentor to everyone around him. His work ethic, consistent play, and inspiring sense of professionalism made him an invaluable piece to the Celtics. We will miss you, Big Al. In addition to all this, the Celtics are now playing under the limitations of the second apron rules. This means that their capacity to make significant trades is limited, which will make midseason movements more difficult. That also implies that if things start to spiral—more injuries, lack of cohesion, no team chemistry—it may impact Boston’s freedom to change course. There are too many unanswered questions surrounding the Celtics going into this season. It’s hard to see Boston breeze into the NBA Finals again given injuries, roster turnover, financial limitations, and Horford’s absence. As much as it pains me to say, Boston is in a period of trouble, and this year will most likely not result in a success story.

October 9, 2025

by Amanda Ayres ’26 and Ava La Bruno ’27 on October 9, 2025

Congress Updates

On Tuesday, Sept. 30, Student Congress was pleased to welcome Providence College men’s basketball head coach, Kim English, to our general assembly meeting. Coach English began by reflecting on a productive offseason and sharing his excitement about the upcoming season. He highlighted the strengths of this year’s roster, including both newly recruited players and his veteran returning players. Coach English emphasized that the players on the current roster, and those who he will recruit in the future, all align with the team’s core values: toughness and hard work. He stressed the importance of achieving certain goals during their games, including shooting 40 percent from the field, holding opponents to no more than seven three-pointers and seven offensive rebounds per game, achieving 40 paint touches, maintaining a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and shooting at least 75 percent from the free-throw line.

When reflecting on the differences between last year’s team and this year’s, he told us that he is hopeful that there will be a stronger emphasis on brotherhood and commitment to PC’s mission this year. He also mentioned that he has begun inviting guest speakers to speak to the team about the distractions of social media commentary. Coach English commented on the effects of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and how he and the rest of the coaching staff are working to keep the team focused on the goals right in front of them.

His expectations of the fans will not be hard to achieve for us Friars. He wants us to keep the energy up—keep coming to games and showing the opposing teams the Amica Mutual Pavilion (AMP) atmosphere we are known for, but he also emphasized how he expects our student section to show respect to our opponents and their coaches. Have fun, show school spirit, and make sure we keep the PC mission at the forefront, just like the team is expected to.

The Friars have an exciting schedule lined up, and the first few games are very important. Their first game is on Nov. 3 at the AMP, and we cannot wait to see the team back on the court. Student Congress was grateful to Coach English for coming to speak to us about his goals and hopes for the season.

As for the rest of the meeting, the newly elected and selected members of the class of 2029 were sworn in, and we are excited to finally have a full 76th Student Congress! The legislation for the proposal of Just Dance Club was approved, and an amendment to the Constitution of Student Congress was proposed pertaining to the events hosted by the Outreach Committee, which will be voted on at the next meeting.

Kim English: One of the Best Recruiters in the Country?

by Connor Whalen ‘28 on October 2, 2025

Sports

In 2024, English made another big splash with the recruitment of Oswin Erhunmwumse ’28, ranking just outside the top ten in Friars history. He also recruited Ryan Mela ’28, a three-star forward who was unranked nationally and has impressively carved out a role for himself in the upcoming season. English’s increased aggressiveness in the transfer portal was also evident, despite a few of the transfers posting underwhelming seasons. This past offseason showed exponential improvement in English’s recruitment; he landed Jamier Jones ’29, ranked ninth in his position, and another top-100 recruit in Jaylen Harrell ’29. The transfer portal also brought in proven talents like Jason Edwards ’G26, Jaylin Sellers ’G26, and Duncan Powell ’G26, showing even further improvement from last year’s portal.

Huge news struck PC’s campus this month when five-star high-school prospect Caleb Holt went on an official visit to Friartown. Holt is a top-five national prospect, a legitimate one-and-done college player, and on track to be an early 2027 NBA first-round pick. This is absolutely groundbreaking news for Friars basketball, and by no means does Holt even have to commit to the Friars to make it so. To put this into perspective: imagine Jaylen Brown visiting PC a decade ago, or Jayson Tatum in 2016, or VJ Edgecombe or Dylan Harper a year ago. Providence’s basketball program is certainly storied and prestigious, but not of the caliber to attract immense talent like this.

It has been speculated that Providence is among a select few schools that Holt is considering for a decision. Now, some of the other schools in that group are powerhouses like Alabama, Kentucky, and Auburn, meaning it is probably not likely that he commits to PC, but the very fact that Providence is on the list with top-tier programs like those is massive news.

In August, coach English and his staff also hosted Abdou Toure, a top-40 national prospect from Connecticut. Toure recently announced he is down to his final three schools: UConn, Arkansas, and Providence. Another massive offer for the Friars, Toure would be the highest-rated freshman to ever play for PC outside of Dunn. English joins elite company in making Toure’s final list among Arkansas’ John Calipari and UConn’s Dan Hurley, two of the most well-respected coaches in college basketball. Toure’s decision announcement will come this Friday, Oct. 3.

If Toure were to commit to PC, the 2026 season would start to look even more exciting for Friars fans. Whether Holt and/or Toure commit to PC—and realistically, they very well may not—the fact that English is drawing massive talent to Providence, and that these players are truly considering his offers, shows huge potential for this program with him at the helm. While the results have yet to be seen, it takes time to build a program as a new and largely unproven head coach, and the future, starting with this season, looks very bright in Friartown.

Athlete of the Week 10-2-25

by Flagg Taylor ’27 on October 2, 2025

Athlete of the Week

Rich Barron: Third Year Loyal Friar

Rich Barron ’27 is entering his third year of college basketball, and during the past two transitional and challenging seasons for the Friars, he has remained loyal to the team and head coach Kim English. With last season being one of the worst seasons the team has faced in recent history, fans are eager to put it in the past, especially with the assistance of several new and exciting faces being added to the team. It is great to see excitement and support for new transfers and incoming freshmen, but it’s important to recognize and appreciate players like Barron who have shown dedication to the program over many seasons in this new dynamic NIL landscape.

Barron joined the Friars for the 2023–24 season. He was one of English’s first recruits, originally committing to play for George Mason University, English’s previous school, before decommitting and following English to Providence. Barron was born on March 5, 2005, and grew up in Chicago, IL, with his parents Richard and Cory and sister Dylan. He played for St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, graduating in 2023. In his senior season, Barron averaged 16.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and three assists per game. He received first-team all-state honors in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association 3A division, as well as first-team in the Chicago Catholic League. The 6’5”, 220-pound forward will be entering his junior year season still boasting the No. 10.

In the 2024–25 season, like the team as a whole, Barron experienced some struggles. Before the season began, he had shoulder surgery for a nagging injury from the previous 2023–24 season. This likely affected his game at the beginning of the season. Throughout the 2024–25 season, Barron also struggled with concussions and a groin injury, leading to rocky and inconsistent play for the sophomore. Although it was generally a disappointing season for Barron, on Feb. 8, he lit up Hinkle Arena with seven three-pointers and 23 points in a heartbreaking one-point loss at Butler. This game proved he still had the potential he had shown during his freshman season.

With all these exciting new players joining the team, it is easy to forget about the improvements returning players will be making. Barron has been grinding during the off-season, and coming into this season healthy, fans will see improvements and performances like his freshman year potential alluded to. In Barron’s freshman season, he shot three-pointers at 42.9 percent and scored eight or more points on nine different occasions for the Friars, providing an important offensive spark off the bench. Barron was named Big East Freshman of the Week on Jan. 22, 2024 after lighting up DePaul with four three-pointers. In my opinion, his best performance as a Friar came in the 2024 Big East Tournament against Creighton. Taking a bigger role after Bryce Hopkins ’25 injury, he stepped up when needed that season. The Friars needed to start the second half off strong and keep the momentum which Barron did, Barron stepping up and draining back-to-back threes, sparking a scoring run and creating a ton of momentum. Barron also hit an impressive swooping reverse layup against the four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Ryan Kalkbrenner. The Friars won this game, and Barron was a huge part of the momentum. Last season, plagued by injuries, Barron could not showcase his potential. This year, with a new and improved team around him, a more confident coach, and a refreshed coaching staff, Barron will be able to continue improving and put his talents on display at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. I’m certainly excited to watch guys like third-team All-SEC Jason Edwards ’G26 take the court as promising transfers, but I’ll always be most excited to watch loyal Friars like Barron get back on the court, giving it their all for the hope of going dancing in March with a Providence jersey on.

Kim English: One of the Best Recruiters in the Country?

by Connor Whalen ‘28 on October 2, 2025

Sports

Kim English’s recruiting ability has proven to be elite over his three years at Providence, each year seeming increasingly impressive. In his first year, Garwey Dual—initially recruited by former head coach Ed Cooley—chose to recommit to Providence College, ultimately deciding to play for English despite the abrupt coaching change. Dual’s tenure at Providence was short-lived and certainly disappointing, averaging a meager 3.3 points per game, which resulted in his transferring out after his freshman year. Dual was, however, the third-highest rated commit in Providence’s history, behind only Ricky Ledo (a top-ten national recruit in 2011 who never actually played due to academic ineligibility) and Kris Dunn ’16, a name Friars fans are more than familiar with. In 2024, English made another big splash with the recruitment of Oswin Erhunmwumse ’28, ranking just outside the top ten in Friars history. He also recruited Ryan Mela ’28, a three-star forward who was unranked nationally and has impressively carved out a role for himself in the upcoming season. English’s increased aggressiveness in the transfer portal was also evident, despite a few of the transfers posting underwhelming seasons. This past offseason showed exponential improvement in English’s recruitment; he landed Jamier Jones ’29, ranked ninth in his position, and another top 100 recruit in Jaylen Harrell ’29. The transfer portal also brought in proven talents like Jason Edwards ’G26, Jaylin Sellers ’G26, and Duncan Powell ’G26, showing even further improvement from last year’s portal.

Huge news struck PC’s campus this month when 5-star high school prospect Caleb Holt went on an official visit to Friartown. Holt is a top-five national prospect, a legitimate one-and-done college player, and on track to be an early 2027 NBA first-round pick. This is absolutely groundbreaking news for Friars basketball, and by no means does Holt even have to commit to the Friars to make it so. To put this into perspective: imagine Jaylen Brown visiting PC a decade ago, or Jayson Tatum in 2016, or VJ Edgecombe or Dylan Harper a year ago. Providence’s basketball program is certainly storied and prestigious, but not of the caliber to attract immense talent like this. It has been speculated that Providence is among a select few schools that Holt is considering for a decision. Now, some of the other schools in that group are powerhouses like Alabama, Kentucky, and Auburn, meaning it is probably not likely that he commits to PC, but the very fact that Providence is on the list with top-tier programs like those is massive news.

In August, coach English and his staff also hosted Abdou Toure, a top 40 national prospect from Connecticut. Toure recently announced he is down to his final three schools: UConn, Arkansas, and Providence. Another massive offer for the Friars, Toure would be the highest-rated freshman to ever play for PC outside of Dunn. English joins elite company in making Toure’s final list among Arkansas’ John Calipari and UConn’s Dan Hurley, two of the most well-respected coaches in college basketball. Toure’s decision announcement will come this Friday, Oct. 3. If Toure were to commit to PC, the 2026 season would start to look even more exciting for Friars fans.

Whether Holt and/or Toure commit to PC—and realistically, they very well may not—the fact that English is drawing massive talent to Providence, and also the fact that they are truly considering his offers, shows huge potential for this program with him at the helm. While the results have yet to be seen, it takes time to build a program as a new and largely unproven head coach, and the future, starting with this season, looks very bright in Friartown.

Sneak Peak at Men’s Basketball

by Emilia Farrall ‘28 on September 18, 2025

Sports

As head coach Kim English enters his third season at Providence College, the team looks a little different this year. With the loss of key scorers such as Bensley Joseph ’25, Jayden Pierre, and of course Bryce Hopkins to another Big East competitor, it leaves us to wonder who will step into those important gaps and how the season will play out for the Friars.

English’s returning players are key to team dynamic and success this season. Important returning players for the Friars include Oswin Erhunmwunse ’28, Corey Floyd, Jr. ’26, Rich Barron ’27, and Ryan Mela ’28. Erhunmwunse is the only returning player who appeared in every game for the Friars last season. As a guard, Floyd is PC’s top returning scorer, averaging 9.2 points per game. Barron started in nine of his 27 appearances last season. Mela averaged 6.4 points per game last season and was named to the Big-East All Freshman Team.

Providence is known for utilizing the transfer portal effectively and always landing talented recruits. Key transfer from Vanderbilt, Jason Edwards ’26G, played in all 33 games and boasted an impressive average of 17 points per game, scoring double figures in 31 of the 33 games last season. Edwards was named to the 2025 All-SEC third team. Jaylin Sellers ’26G, who transferred from the University of Central Florida, only appeared in three games last season due to an injury, but still maintained an average of six points per game that season. In the season prior, Sellers appeared in all 33 games for the Knights and earned All Big-12 Honorable Mention. PC also secured international prospect Stefan Vaaks ’29. Vaaks represented Estonia in the 2025 European Championship and averaged 15 points per game in Latvia-Estonia Basketball League play. Additionally, Daquan Davis ’28, Jaylen Harrell ’29, Jamier Jones ’29, Jack Williams ’26G, Cole Hargrove ’27, Peteris Pinnis ’29, and Duncan Powell ’26G round out all new players for Coach English.

On Thursday, Sept. 11, Providence announced the upcoming season’s conference schedule. The Friars will play 20 games of Big East play, 10 on the road and 10 at home at the Amica Mutual Pavillion in downtown Providence. A notable matchup will be against Rick Pitino’s 2025 Big East championship team, St. John’s, which includes former Friar Hopkins. Hopkins ended his three year tenure at PC shortly following the conclusion of last year’s season. The Friars will face the Red Storm away on Jan. 3, and at home on Feb. 14, in what will be an exciting Big East matchup. Another electrifying matchup will be between former head coach Ed Cooley who now coaches Georgetown’s Hoyas. This rivalry has been beyond tense for both players and fans alike, and will continue to be so in the two games scheduled this season. The Friars take on the Hoyas at home on Jan. 24, and away Mar. 7.

The Big East will continue to be one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball. The Friars must adjust to the upcoming season’s challenges to secure a bid to the NCAA tournament this year. The team has put in substantial work this off-season to make a huge impact on the program, leaving Friar fans hopeful for the upcoming season.