Assessing Providence's Roster as the Portal Sets to Open

Also included: Rick Pitino's curious decision, the Big East's NCAA Tournament woes, and short coaching stays.

Photo courtesy of Carl Rizzo

With the transfer portal set to officially open on Monday, Providence has a bit more clarity than it had in the middle of last week, but several questions loom.

As reported earlier, both Justyn Fernandez and Bryce Hopkins are entering the portal, while Jabri Abdur-Rahim is seeking a waiver to play next season for the Friars.

The end of the week brought the significant news that Oswin Erhunmwunse, Ryan Mela, and Corey Floyd Jr. are returning to Providence for the 2025-26 season.

All three players were considered important pieces heading into the offseason, with both Erhunmwunse and Mela being named to the Big East All-Freshman team, and Floyd providing experience, defense, and scoring punch.

Next year will be Floyd’s fourth with the program after transferring in from UConn following his redshirt freshman season, and he’s held in high regard by the fanbase for being the first player to publicly commit to Kim English after the departure of Ed Cooley. Now he’ll be the rare player who spends four years with the same program.

In Erhunmwunse, the Friars have one of the most promising young centers in the country — a potentially elite shot blocker whose offensive game progressed throughout his freshman year.

Mela can create for others from the wing, scores in a variety of ways in the paint, and rebounds well for his size. As I’ve written since he committed, Mela’s ceiling will come down to the development of his jumper. With a consistent jump shot, Mela is a potential all-league talent.

English and his staff will also welcome a pair of top 100 wings in the class of 2025 in Jamier Jones and Jaylen Harrell. Jones, a native Floridian, is as athletic a player as anyone who has worn the Friar uniform — the type of wing NCAA Tournament teams seem to be loaded with. He’s a vicious dunker who explodes off the floor, but will need to develop his jump shot at the next level. Even without a fully developed jumper, he should have an impact next season.

Harrell is almost the opposite of Jones — a sturdy, cerebral forward who welcomes contact in the paint, scores with either his back to the basket or when facing up, and he can pass better than most forwards his age.

While they are young, I’d expect Harrell and Jones to both play as freshmen.