Friar Basketball

Larry Austin Off the Board

larryaustin

Larry Austin is off to Xavier. Providence made a late push for the 2014 point guard who re-opened his recruitment after a coaching change at Tennessee (where he originally committed), but he announced tonight that he is joining a loaded class at Xavier.

“I just felt like Xavier was the right place for me. Since I got my release form from Tennessee, me and Coach (Chris) Mack have had a good relationship – and with my parents as well. They recruited me hard, and I wanted to come and be part of the family,” Austin told the Cincinnati Inquirer.

Mack is reaping the benefits of joining the Big East, putting together perhaps his deepest class with a pair of top 100 recruits and now four 3 star prospects in a class that should finish in the top 20 nationally in most rankings.

Where does this leave the Friars? Ed Cooley will continue to look to find another guard this spring, and Cox Sports recently speculated that Kansas transfer Naadir Tharpe could be a possibility for both Providence and Rhode Island. Tharpe verbally committed to Providence during his junior season at Brewster Academy, but backed out when then-assistant head coach Pat Skerry departed for Pittsburgh.

At Kansas Tharpe was part of the national runner up during his freshman year and was a starter this past season. Wherever he ends up, Tharpe will make a push for a hardship waiver to play immediately, as he’s returning to play closer to his Worcester, MA home to be closer to his daughter who reportedly has health concerns.

The 5’11 point guard shot .377 from 3 this past season while averaging 8.5 points and 5 assists.

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