2024-25 Friars Guards Preview: Volume 1

Bill Ricci shares his thoughts on the revamped point guard position at Providence, and what could be ahead for Corey Floyd Jr. this season.

Friar Family, whether you’re enjoying Newport, Cape Cod, New Hampshire, or the Jersey Shore this summer, a part of you, I’m assuming, is already ready for Friar basketball season. I’m never one to wish away summer, but it’s hard not to when we get towards the beginning of September and we’re so close to that first week in November. 

Kevin has already done a great job previewing some of the 2024-25 roster — make sure to check out his most recent article on Jayden Pierre. I am going to cover positions to get everyone excited about the potential depth chart — and first up for me is point guard and a combo guard to keep an eye on!

We, of course, have to kick it off with PG1, Jayden Pierre. Pierre ended 2023-24 as the clear third option behind Devin Carter and Josh Oduro scoring the basketball. In the NIT game against Boston College (which many of us are still trying to forget), without Carter and then Oduro — Pierre ended the postseason with a 21-point performance on 5-9 shooting from three. 

Now that’s what I’m calling a cliffhanger heading into his junior year chapter! As Jon Rothstein noted, Pierre looks primed to make a run at an All Big East team in 2024-25. From his freshman year to now, he has grown into his frame of 185 pounds. Pierre also ended the season with 16 and 15 points respectively in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals and semis. 

I’m excited to see what he continues to do offensively, of course, but opposite Bensley Joseph I’m very excited to see what Pierre can do facilitating the basketball. Providence’s depth at guard this season is unique, and because of Joseph’s ability to play-off the ball, I think we will see Pierre running the offense as the ball dominant one more often than not. I don’t think it can be understated how well Pierre plays off the bounce, and how that fits Kim English’s system very well. Because he can play with pace but still be in control, he is able to find open guys in transition but also source his own pull-up three. To close on Pierre, I expect him to double the amount of assists per game from his sophomore to junior campaign. Having a year of being given the keys is going to make a world of difference for Pierre’s feel and already strong ability to make plays. How he and Joseph play together/opposite each other is something we will have to see how the coaching staff draws it up, but in the meantime I see Pierre at 12/13 ppg with over six assists per game potential.

Bensley Joseph. Firstly, we love when a local athlete comes back home. That can never be over-appreciated, especially someone with Final Four experience and swagger like Joseph. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Friar Family NIL golf outing at Cranston Country (shoutout to Brian Catinella, Alex Vescera and Mike Higgins on all they do), and I was impressed with his overall demeanor. I would describe him as calm but calculatedly smooth, and I imagine this to be his mindset when playing the game of basketball. With almost identical numbers to Pierre, as I mentioned earlier, I see Pierre more on the ball and Joseph more off the ball when they play together.

Joseph is a career 38 percent shooter from three and could be a perfect combo guard in Kim English’s system. I see Joseph playing a similar role to a Maliek White, but with better production at around 10 points, three rebounds, and five assists per game. Joseph also has a knack for making gritty plays and getting out in passing lanes. At a steal and a half per game last year, I like him out there with the first unit on the opposing team’s best guard.

Lastly, I want to focus on combo guard Corey Floyd Jr. Floyd Jr., unfortunately, saw some regression last year as he adjusted to a new system. He did have a 20 piece against Butler (and suffered through one blown call that could have saved PC’s NCAA Tournament hopes). Floyd Jr. did get better down the stretch, shooting 3-7 and 3-4 in the last two Big East tourney games against Marquette and Creighton. If you look at the stats closely, Floyd Jr. seemed to play better against better competition, and it seemed as though his shooting touch came back to him once things got settled after Bryce Hopkins was out and his role was more clearly defined. I see Floyd Jr. this year as a backup to Wesley Cardet and competing for minutes against Justyn Fernandez, who I will cover in my next segment. I do think with Floyd’s size and ability to hopefully make shots as he did down the stretch, he will be able to find solid playing time on this deep roster of guards. He can also rebound the ball well and match-up against bigger guards/forwards when caught in screens and switches. It seems he has put on even more muscle this off-season, which is impressive considering his already built physique. We will certainly be rooting for #14 this season.