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Recruiting Notes and Observations

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1. Can PC’s class of 2015 have a similar impact as the class of 2000? The Friars are going to need some sort of lift from their incoming freshmen, and a great model for this group would be the Marcus Douthit/Sheiku Kabba/Maris Laksa/Chris Anrin class of 15 years ago.

Douthit was the only one with a national rep, Kabba was an older freshman respected in New York City circles, while Laksa and Anrin were unknowns coming from overseas.

The 6’11 Douthit was able to provide instant minutes off of the bench to shore up the defense, but the biggest impact of this group came on the offensive end.

The year prior Providence was a woeful shooting team… and a woeful team in general. They hovered around 300th nationally in scoring, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throws and the result was an 11 win season that some were calling the worst in PC history at the time.

A year later Providence was an NCAA Tournament team that shot 40% from deep (12th nationally) and finished 28th in 3-pointers made. They got huge improvements from long range from sophomores Rome Augustin (28% as a freshman, 40% as a sophomore) and Abdul Mills (30% to 35%), while John Linehan returned from injury with a much improved stroke (31% to 40+), but Kabba, Laksa and Anrin all played important roles in stretching the floor.

Kabba’s .465 shooting from 3 remains a PC record, Laksa scored nine points per game and made 45% of his 3s, while Anrin shot nearly 37% from deep.

It would be unreasonable to expect three of PC’s freshman to shoot with similar accuracy, but Ricky Council, Drew Edwards and Ryan Fazekas all arrive with reputations as shooters, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jalen Lindsey take a step forward as Mills and Augustin did from their freshman to sophomore seasons.

2. On Nigel Williams-Goss. The former McDonald’s All American is visiting Providence this weekend and the belief in some corners is that he’s UNLV’s to lose, with the Friars making a late push. Cooley has a lot more selling points than when he locked down Dunn four years ago, but I’m not so sure that practicing against an All American as he sits out this year is going to hold much weight. Williams-Goss has always have a sizable rep of his own.

3. Best ever out of Providence? Read from a couple of people I know, and like a lot, that Cushing Academy’s Kimani Lawrence could be the best player ever out of Providence. He’s got a long, long way to go before he’s Ricky Ledo, never mind Ernie or Marvin.

4. Tracking Bruce Brown. The BABC guard and Vermont Academy star was on campus at Providence recently. He’s visited PC several times, as far back as two summers ago, in fact.

The Brown/PC dance has been an interesting one. The Friars weren’t getting a mention with Brown over the past few months, and from what I was told in December Brown wanted a school “like Syracuse.”

Cooley and staff saw Vermont Academy quite often this past season, as they are interested in power forward Tyrique Jones as well.

Brown has been one of the best players over the first two sessions of the EYBL and has recently added offers from Georgetown, St. John’s and Xavier. He’s a wonderful talent, on par with Donovan Mitchell.

5. Speaking of Jones, a trend is developing. Cooley and his staff continue to load up on big bodied, physical power forwards: Ben Bentil, then Alex Owens and now they are looking for the next in line.

6. File this under the joys of making your living recruiting 17 year olds. A quote from superstar recruit Rawle Alkins, “Oh yeah, I’m late, real late… I feel like I am going to commit real late. I want to be one of those guys where, ‘I’m Rawle Alkins and this year I will committing to …’ on like national television.”

Twitter: @Kevin_Farrahar

Email: kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

2 Comments

  1. Brandon Tapley

    April 26, 2015 at 5:01 pm

    CoachDemetrious Robinson read this they mention Kimani

  2. CoachDemetrious Robinson

    April 26, 2015 at 5:02 pm

    Kimani Lawrence

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