The Young Guns

By Craig Leighton
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Updated: May 19, 2017

While Providence’s coaching staff will be concentrating on the 2018 class during the spring and summer recruiting periods, this is also a time for them to further evaluate and build relationships with recruits in the class of 2019.

Here’s a look at a few of the players Ed Cooley and Co. could be monitoring from the class of 2019.

Taelon Martin, 6’3 PG, Mass Rivals (Putnam Tech)

From Kaleb Joseph to Jalen Adams to Makai Ashton-Langford to Wabissa Bede, and now David Duke, the Mass Rivals AAU program has perennially been home to some of the top point guard prospects in the country.

Next up on that list is Taelon Martin, a 6’3 point guard currently playing high school ball at Putnam Tech. Martin is a highly-skilled lead guard who possesses strong court awareness. He has a good outside shot, and finishes strong at the rim with his impressive athletic ability.

Martin is currently ranked 41st nationally in the 2019 class by 247 Sports. If he continues to improve the form on his outside shot and his passing ability he will become an elite point guard at the college level, and exactly the type of big guard Cooley wants running the show.

Akok Akok, 6’8 SF, Mass Rivals (Putnam Science Academy)

Akok Akok is going to be the next in a long line of Mass Rivals players to burst on the national scene from seemingly out of nowhere. At 6’8 with a 7’3 wingspan, Akok is already a great shot blocker. After eight games, he is currently leading the entire Adidas Uprising Circuit by averaging eight blocks a game.

The thing that really makes Akok unique, however, is his ability as an outside shooter. Akok shot 54.8% from beyond the three point line, going 23 for 42, at the Adidas Uprising Live Period.

By this time next year Akok could very well be the top ranked player in New England in the 2019 class.

Cooley and the coaching staff very well could make Akok one of their highest priorities going forward.

Isaiah Stewart, 6’8 PF, Albany City Rocks, (McQuaid Jesuit)

Isaiah Stewart is one of the top power forwards on the East Coast in his class. He is a beast underneath the basket, finishing everything at the rim with authority, and runs the floor far better than most players his size. He is currently ranked 42nd nationally in the class of 2019 by 247 Sports.

Playing up a level this spring for the Albany City Rocks on the EYBL Circuit, Stewart is averaging 11 points and 8.4 rebounds per game after 12 games.

Here is what Stewart recently had to say about PC:

“It is another Big East school that sticks out to me. When they played Georgetown, Coach (Ed) Cooley came over and asked me how I was doing. That shows me a lot since he came up to Rochester even when I was hurt. That just shows a lot about his character and how much they would want me at their program. They already have a Rochester guy on their roster; it seems like it is an overall good program. I would love to visit them in the near future.”

Dana Tate, 6’7 SF, Expressions Elite (MacDuffie School)

Dana Tate is a rugged 6’7 combo forward who is going to be able to play multiple positions at the next level. He has a good outside shot, handles the ball well, and with his size is able to finish at the rim with ease. The New England Recruiting Report currently has Tate ranked as the 11th best player in the 2018 class. Other publications list him as being in the 2019 class.

Tate plays for Expressions Elite on the Nike EYBL circuit, and after 12 games he is averaging 14.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. As Tate gets more notoriety he will become one of the most sought after players in New England.

Brycen Goodine, 6’4 SG BABC (St. Andrew’s)

After Cole Swider graduates, 6’4 shooting guard Brycen Goodine is going to be the next star recruit to come out of St. Andrew’s in Barrington. RI. An elite athlete, Goodine is also one of the best outside shooters in this class. He uses his outstanding jumping ability to drive to the basket with ease and finish above the rim.

Goodine is currently ranked as the 4th best player in New England’s 2019 class. He is just scratching the surface of his ability so you can expect him to start breaking into the national rankings very soon.

Chol Marial, 7’3 C, CBC (Cheshire Academy)

Chol Marial is widely considered one of the top 10 prospects in the country in the class of 2019. At 7’3 with a 7’10 wingspan Marial is an intimidating presence as soon as he steps on the court. He has good athletic ability and runs the court very well for a man his size. He also shoots out to 18 feet. Marial is currently ranked 3rd nationally in the class of 2019 by ESPN.

Given that Marial is playing high school ball in Connecticut, PC may kick the tires here, but there hasn’t been much on the Marial/Providence front to date.

Bryce Wills, 6’5 PG, PSA Cardinals (Iona Prep)

Wills is one of the top point guards in the 2019 class. He has all the tools, possessing a steady handle and range out to the three point line. He drives to the basket with authority and finishes at the rim well. Wills is currently ranked as the 23rd best player nationally in the class of 2019.

Wills plays with both the NY Rens 16U and 17U teams. He was very impressive at last year’s PC Elite Camp. 6’5 point guards with all the skills are like gold. The Friars have offered and figure to continue to aggressively recruit him over the next year.

Other Players of Interest in the Class of 2019

Kofi Cockburn, 6’10 PF, NY Rens (Christ the King High School)

Karim Coulibaly, 6’8 PF, New World Basketball (St. Vincent Pallotti High School)

Aundre Hyatt, 6’5 SF, Boo Williams (The Miller School)

Chris Camille, 6’6 SF, Mass Rivals (Brookline)

Josh Nickelberry, 6’4 SG, Team Loaded (Trinity Christian)

Joey Baker, 6’7 SF, Team Felton (Trinity Christian)

Aaron Gray, 6’8 PF, Mass Rivals (LaSalle Academy)

Preston Santos, 6’5 SF, Expressions Elite (The Brooks School)

Armando Bacot, 6’9 PF, Team Loaded (Trinity Episcopal)

Tanahj Pettway, 6’0 PG, Mass Rivals (Putnam Science Academy)

Maxwell Lorca-Lloyd, 6’8 PF, PSA Cardinals (Northfield Mount Hermon)

DeMarr Ashton-Langford. 6’3 SG, Mass Rivals (Saint Peter Marian)

Ismael Massoud, 6’5 SG, PSA Cardinals (MacDuffie School)

Jaiden Delaire, 6’7 SF, CBC (Loomis Chaffee)

Charles Coleman, 6’11 C, Wrightway Skills (The Dexter School)

Balsa Koprivica, 7’1 C, Team Florida (University School of Nova)

Mohammed Abdulsalem, 6’8 C, Georgia United (Greenforest Christian Academy)