A Historic Day in Friartown

The latest from Billy Ricci, focusing on an all-time recruiting day in Friartown

Wow. April 4 will certainly be a day to remember. With Providence’s season being over well before the NCAA Tournament (and the tournament overall not being as exciting this year) the March vibe just didn’t feel the same this year. Mix that with Bryce Hopkins to St. Johns and an angry fanbase online… let’s just say the vibes continued to trend downward early this offseason.

And then 48 hours changed everything.

It started with Cole Hargrove from Drexel. It wasn’t the big splash, but the roster piece that has evaded the Friars for some time now — a backup big.

Hargrove is the perfect fit for the Ed Croswell/Kalif Young role we have seen be successful in Friartown before. Tough, rebounding, blocked shots — in today’s NIL era roster, construction from contributors can be tough to find. The staff found a great player in Hargrove to be what others haven’t of late — reliable against both first and second units and a post presence inside offensively.

It is interesting, in this case, that PC is essentially trading in two seven-footers for a 6’8 forward, but if you have the toughness to score in the paint, rebound, and block shots that will beat the height difference all day long. As we learned with Anton Bonke and Christ Essandoko — being a big in the Big East is not easy. I am excited for Hargrove to provide the Friars that depth we have been looking for at the four and the five, and to make some shots inside opposite Oswin Erhunmwunse.

Then came former Friar commit Daquan Davis — a departure from Florida State following mass exodus after Leonard Hamilton retired. I give the staff credit for going right back to Davis.

As I have mentioned on our podcast, Davis does need to improve his efficiencies from the field and three, but at almost 9 points per game as a freshman in the ACC, it is going to be hard to keep him off the court. I would describe him as a spark plug, and someone who takes pride on the defensive end. For what he lacks in true size, he makes up for it in quickness. Davis has the ability, even as a smaller guard, to get inside and make good passes. He may be an underrated passer overall, as most highlights you’ll see are him in both transition and half court dumping the ball down low or finding guys for dunks on the break. I think, interestingly enough, if Davis can accept more of a sixth man-type role for the Friars, he can be successful leading a second unit behind Jason Edwards.

Speaking of Edwards, I would say my excitement for him has only gone up since his committed to Providence was announced. Number eight in scoring in the SEC at 17 a game (in 25 minutes a game, by the way), Edwards is a real deal scorer at only 6’1. He averaged 53% inside the paint and has an electric first step and dribble to blow by bigger defenders.

Edwards went 8-16 from the field and 6-10 from three for 24 points against Tennessee, had 21 against Alabama, and 20 against Florida. Now that is the real deal! What I am most excited about with Edwards is the ability to break down the defense. At times last season Providence really saw its guards standing out on the perimeter almost afraid to take guys off the dribble. Edwards has that IT factor to want the ball in the big moments and to take the big shot. I would like to see him up that 3-point percentage just a little bit but man, this was a home run scoring and lead guard get for Kim English and staff.

And now Friar fans, we get to the mystery portion of our program, Stefan Vaaks. As much as I am seeing fans online raving about Vaaks (and I am certainly excited as well), I always wonder how guys from Europe will transition to the college game, especially from a lesser-known league like Estonia/Latvia.

With that said, the upside potential couldn’t be greater. Vaaks looks very comfortable from three and is playing against grown men scoring 15 a game at 38% from three. I could see Vaaks playing a role off the bench to start as he gets familiar to the college game, serving as a three-point specialist or the Jabri Abdur-Rahim role from last year. With Vaaks, I do think it says a lot about the staff that as bigger schools like Ohio State were in pursuit, but he still chose the Friars on the style of play and relationship he built with the staff. I don’t want to predict too much here, I would rather see how this one pans out for itself Friartown!

And last, but not least, and the cherry on top for what was an epic day in Friartown — ladies and gentlemen Jaylin Sellers! Sellers capped a huge day on Friday when he committed to the Friars after Edwards and Vaaks had been announced.

I am personally very excited for Sellers and I will tell you why. Think powerful dribbler and strong frame — you are not stopping this man when he gets downhill. Active around the rim — think put-backs and finishes off offensive rebounds. And lastly, the 3-point shot is clean and much better than the 29% figure he shot at from distance his first year at UCF.

Sellers has things in his game you can’t teach – including a good step-back from midrange. He seems hungry to get back to form and I would be really surprised if he wasn’t starting for the Friars. The question is will he be at the 2 or the 3? Time will tell there, but Sellers may be the transfer X-factor that can get PC back in the tournament with a competitive spirt and a powerful drive to the hoop.

Now this begs the question: are the Friars done in the portal? I would say maybe add a starting four, and then we’re done. This could go in a few different ways, but, as we have seen, everything can change for a program in just 48 hours.