Jamier Jones Hits the Transfer Portal
With news breaking on Friday that Jamier Jones would enter the transfer portal, the spring became that much busier for new Providence head coach Bryan Hodgson.
It’s a situation he’s familiar with. Hodgson brought two players with him from Arkansas State and retained just two others from South Florida when he took the USF job last year.
Regardless, the news of Jones’ departure stings.
In Jones, Providence had an electric transition athlete who played with a mix of confidence and fearlessness that endeared him to Friar fans almost instantly.
Kim English lured Jones, a Florida native, away from the SEC coming out of high school, and Jones rewarded him with an All-Big East Freshman campaign that included countless highlight plays and endless energy.
His freshman year highlights were thrilling:
The biggest highlight of his freshman campaign likely came in early January when Jones finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds in a stirring comeback win over St. John’s in Madison Square Garden.
Despite his relative inexperience, Jones had the second-highest NET Rating on the team last year. Jones (+11.2) and Oswin Erhunmwunse (+12.6) were the only Friars with a positive NET Rating in 2025-26. Corey Floyd Jr. was third on the team at -0.9.
Providence was +90 with Jones on the court last season, which was also second behind Erhunmwunse (+98), and well ahead of third-ranked Jaylin Sellers (+26).
There were indications that Jones could join Ryan Mela in returning to Providence next season, but word broke midday on Friday that he was headed to the portal. With his talent level, Jones should find a significant payday on the transfer market.
Which leads us back to Providence. Hodgson will enter the portal with one regular contributor from last year’s Friar squad in Mela, and we’ll soon find out if any players from South Florida follow him north.
USF’s leading scorer from a year ago, Wes Enis, is in the portal as is 6’9 forward De’Ante Green, who sat out last season due to an achilles injury.
Plenty of names will be bandied about from USF’s roster by Friar fans, but Hodgson will likely have to dig deeper into the portal or overseas to find bigs. Star center Izaiyah Nelson followed Hodgson from Arkansas State to USF, but he’s out of eligibility, while promising 6’9 freshman Onyx Nnani played like more of a point-forward than a traditional bruiser at the Phelps School.
Insight into Hodgson’s approach could be clearer early next week as he is scheduled to meet with the local media on Monday afternoon.
A Look Around the Big East
Providence won’t be alone in rebuilding its roster this spring. Following the retirement of head coach Thad Matta, Butler saw promising freshman Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor enter the portal, as did Finley Bizjack, Azavier Robinson, and Evan Haywood. Of course, Bizjack was one of the top scorers in the Big East last year, while Oliogu-Elabor is a terrific athlete, Robinson a freshman point guard with upside, and the sophomore Haywood can really shoot.
Georgetown looks to be losing veterans Malik Mack and KJ Lewis, along with freshman big Jayden Fort. There’s some buzz online that Lewis could join Rick Pitino at St. John’s.
Meanwhile, Seton Hall took two big blows when talented freshman center Najai Hines portaled, as did Tajuan Simpkins, who was coming off a strong season after transferring in from Elon.
Marquette veteran guards Sean Jones and Tre Norman are also headed to the portal. Norman is a Boston native who played alongside Georgetown guard Kayvaun Mulready and Penn forward TJ Power at Worcester Academy.
There will certainly be more to come.
So am I wrong in looking at players hitting the portal as simply looking to get an understanding of their fair market value? It seems to me that every star payer should do this and then make the decision best for them. Am I missing something? Are they actually 'departing' or just putting themselves on the market?
Jamier will be missed. Could it be St John’s or UConn ? Oh that would hurt.