Kim English…is cool…not Cooley
Billy Ricci writes his latest on all things Providence: from Kim English's IG to the potential of next year's backcourt and rounding out the transfer class
Greetings from the offseason, Friar fans. Things have been a little quiet in Friartown recently, but if there is anything we learned leading into the summer – quiet isn’t always a bad thing.
I’ll get right into it with y'all as I’m sure you're curious where this article is going after reading the headline. If you're like me, you try to abstain from watching Instagram stories as much as possible. So much time can be wasted watching someone’s pointless IG story, or the envy of seeing someone on a vacation or on some weight loss program you could have started months ago. But I can’t help it with one particular person, and that person is our very own Kim English. His stories are the main attraction.
The other night I was waiting for my train back to Providence when I saw English was “live” on IG. So, of course, I had to click on it because why not, and – boom – there was English playing 1-on-1 with Jayden Pierre. I speak for Friartown when I say, I was entertained. But it doesn’t stop there, seeing Kim near courtside with his former Mizzou teammate and former Celtic Phil Pressey at a C’s playoff game, to spending time with his family in Providence, to sending an @ to Jordan Clarkson to donate to the Friar Family NIL – the best part, in my opinion, through all this social media hubbub has been that you can feel the real Kim English and his own personal touch in his posts.
If there is anything about Kim English I have learned thus far is that his swagger is real and he has a sort of “cool” aura to him that comes naturally. Kim is smooth and seems to hold many interesting basketball relationships from Allan Houston to Grant Williams to Ray Allen. But that won’t help him win games as the new head coach of the Providence Friars, right? My guess is Kim’s smooth delivery had to be a large part in Bryce Hopkins and Devin Carter deciding to stay, and Pierre returning from the portal. English clearly has a vision to enhance PC’s offensive game plan, and build a culture not so much around him…but his guys – whether it is playing 1-on-1 with Pierre or posting a picture of Carter on his IG story as well.
Speaking of Carter – Kevin just recently dropped DC’s season highlights on our Instagram and it reminded me of how dynamic and imposing #22 was on fellow Big East guards. This season I am looking forward to seeing DC break into the mid thirty percentile from three and seeing those steal numbers continue to rise to the tops of the NCAA.
PC recently hosted Patrick Ngongba and Daquan Davis on campus in what could be potentially huge gets to start the first “English Class.” Even though it seems like Davis is headed to Maryland, Ngongba could be the legitimate center PC fans have been longing for if the recent offer from Indiana has come in a little too late.
I know we are still in desperate need of a big and there hasn’t been any news on Somto Cyril and Kansas big man Zach Clemence choosing UC Santa Barbara? The Gauchos are underrated, but still, NIL is creating interesting opportunities for transfers I’m just not sure they considered prior to the rule changes. At this rate, Josh Oduro and some Hopkins at the 5 may be in the game plan for the Friars in 2023-2024.
If there is any Friar I am excited to see suit up this year – the answer is a tie for first place between two guys in the backcourt: Garwey Dual and Corey Floyd Jr. Starting with Dual, I think it can’t be understated that he is going to be a problem in the passing lanes and in the open floor, even as a freshman. Watching Dual get to the basket is nothing short of levitation. He may be the smoothest finisher in transition I have ever witnessed, via youtube of course… But seriously, Dual’s ability to play big, and his agility Is NBA level – right now. You should be excited for him to be a part of things right from the start of the new season, but don’t be surprised if his shooting doesn’t align with his overall play. Either way, Carter and Dual on the floor should cause opposing Big East guards to cash in a sick day when coming to the AMP.
As for Floyd, other than an Ian Eagle call on that amazing dunk in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, I don’t think we have seen anywhere near the ceiling Floyd could see for PC. He is obviously strong, but his shot making ability could be on full display under English. Floyd is the exact type of guard Cooley would have turned into a “no dribble and take 3s” type player. I am looking forward to seeing more playing time and more shot attempts for CFJ as we hope to see the same Corey Floyd that dominated the NJ prep basketball scene. With some clear basketball IQ, strength and shooting ability, It wouldn’t surprise me if CFJ averaged over 10 points a game in English’s four guard sets.
To conclude here, what felt like the Wild West for a long time when it came to the portal – now feels like a library on a Monday morning. I have faith English will fill our final spot with a great fit, and I couldn’t be more excited to see a new style and provide some new video coverage of the program next year at the AMP. In the meantime, as we patiently wait for November, Kim English’s Instagram along with some summer in Newport or Gansett will have to do…