A Closer Look at Class of 2026 Center Marcis Ponder

The Miami native officially visited Providence on Saturday.

While the transfer portal continues to be such a focus, the work Kim English and his staff have done in developing a young core is being overshadowed.

Providence hit on both members of their current freshman class. Center Oswin Erhunmwunse was one of the most highly regarded prospects in the country, and he hasn’t disappointed. Not only has Erhunmwunse played impactful minutes as a freshman, he has made significant in-season improvements since November. He projects to be one of the best young centers in the college game next year.

Fellow rookie Ryan Mela didn’t come with the national acclaim of many freshmen entering the Big East, but he’s produced early — with a pair of double doubles to go along with a 12-point, nine-rebound, six-assist effort against Villanova in mid-February.

English followed up that class with a pair of top 100 players in 2025 — 247’s 45th ranked player in Jamier Jones and #85 Jaylen Harrell. The recruiting class marks the first time in seven years that PC will have two commitments in 247’s top 100 players.

Now it’s time to turn the page to the class of 2026, and the Friars had a big visitor at the UConn game on Saturday in center Marcis Ponder.

Prospect: Marcis Ponder

Position: Punishing Paint Presence

School: West Oaks (Orlando)

Class: 2026

Size: 6’11, 280 pounds

247 Sports National Ranking: 82nd

Overview:

Two things stand out when watching clips of Ponder: the athleticism for a young player his size and the ferocity with which he plays. Ponder is a traditional center in that he owns the paint — a “get out of the way” dunker and a solid rebounder, with signs of shot blocking ability.

Ponder is a Miami native who now plays at West Oaks Academy in Florida. Like so many players in today’s day and age, he is well-traveled. Ponder started his career at Miami Northland High School, spent an injury-filled 2023-24 season with Overtime Elite, and played this year with West Oaks.

A return to Florida (and good health) led to Ponder losing 40 pounds last offseason, and the high school junior looks plenty explosive now:

“He’s a monster,” was what I heard back when asking about his game to someone in the know.

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