Kim English and Providence make a significant statement in landing elite center Erhunmwunse Oswin

Has it really just been eight days? So much has changed over the past week that just eight days ago, the Friars entered a matchup against Seton Hall with an 11-2 mark on the season, a #23 ranking next to their name, and a roster capable of making a push toward the top of the Big East.

It was a little over a week ago that PC was upset by the Pirates at home, dealt with the crushing loss of Bryce Hopkins that same night, and then went on the road and took a one-two combo to the gut with narrow losses at Creighton and St. John’s.

Friartown needed a pick-me-up following Wednesday’s 75-73 loss to Rick Pitino and the Johnnies — a game in which the Friars trailed 20-5, before rallying behind a career night from emerging star Devin Carter (31 points), but then fell just short after missing a game-winning attempt at the buzzer.

Providence got more than a lift on Thursday when they received a commitment from class of 2025 center Erhunmwunse Oswin, a native of Nigeria who plays for prep powerhouse Putnam Science Academy.

The 6’9 shot blocker is considered one of the best rim protectors in all of high school basketball. An explosive leaper, Oswin is a four- or five-star recruit, depending upon which recruiting service you prefer. On3.com has Oswin as the 19th ranked player in his class (and the second best center), Rivals ranks him #16, ESPN #27, and 247 Sports has Oswin #40.

As Oswin told On3.com, “I also chose Providence because I have a good relationship with the coaching staff and players. I stay in Providence so I want to stay home and make a difference. I want to be a legend in my city. I know I’m not from America, but I’ve stayed in Providence since I came here.”

The persistent effort of the coaching staff, PC’s style of play, and Oswin’s familiarity with the program were enough to overcome fellow finalists Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, and Creighton.

Oswin exploded onto the prep scene last year after transferring to Putnam Science, where he helped lead the Connecticut-based club to a Prep National title in March — their fourth since 2018. He played a critical role in their playoff run, blocking 10 shots in an opening round victory over Perkiomen, and then helping Putnam knock off Brewster Academy with a 14-point, 11-rebound effort.

A shoulder injury has kept him sidelined since last summer, but Oswin is set to return to action shortly.

His commitment is a breakthrough for Kim English and his staff, who have set their sights extremely high on the recruiting trail. Oswin came to a number of Friar games this season, and PC has also welcomed fellow top-25 players in the class of 2025 like Joson Sanon (Vermont Academy), Jamier Jones (Oak Ridge/FL), Mikel Brown Jr. (Overtime Elite via Orlando, FL), and Efeosa Oliogu (Overtime Elite via Canada) to their home games.

On sheer recruiting rankings alone, Oswin becomes the most highly regarded Providence commit since Kris Dunn and Ricky Ledo committed in the summer of 2011. He has the highest ranking of any PC big man since recruiting services took off in the late ’90s and early 2000s. He’s likely the most well-regarded frontcourt pledge Providence has had since Michael Smith was named a McDonald’s All American in 1990.

The Friars have lacked a true rim protector for the better part of a decade now, but Oswin projects to change that in a hurry — and his arrival to Providence could come faster than expected as well. There were multiple reports circulating following his commitment that Oswin will reclassify to the class of 2024.

With Josh Oduro set to graduate at the end of the year, and Hopkins’ status unclear going forward, the addition of Oswin would be a very solid start as English looks to rebuild his frontcourt. From day one, Oswin figures to be a factor at the rim, and a serious lob threat offensively.

In landing a commitment from one of the best young centers in the country, English and his staff also made a statement of their own this week. While pundits were questioning the future and the ceiling at Providence following the departure of Ed Cooley last March, the first-year Friar head coach said from the first day he took the job that he has everything he needs to succeed at Providence. He believed he could bring five-star players to PC, and has done so within eight months on the job.

In a recruiting world that seemingly grows more murky and daunting by the day, Providence picked up a significant recruiting win on Thursday, and made a major statement in the process in landing Erhunmwunse Oswin.