News and Notes: Justyn Fernandez is transferring to Providence, Donovan Santoro back in the fold, Kim English's NE Prep connections, and more
1. On Sunday afternoon, Justyn Fernandez announced that he was transferring from George Mason to Providence. The 6’5 freshman was considered a top 80-150 prospect in the class of 2022, who chose to play for Kim English despite having offers from the likes of Florida, Clemson, Providence, and a number of other high major programs.
He played 14.1 minutes per game as a freshman, averaging just over four points per game, while shooting 37% from the field and 34% from three.
Fernandez earned high praise from national recruiting services after a strong showing with DC Premier the summer before his senior year of high school, when he emerged from a prospect with a pair of A-10 scholarship offers to one of the hotter names in the Summer of 2021.
Rivals (Jamie Shaw): “Fernandez has always been a high-level athlete. He jumped off the page at the numerous CBG events he attended throughout the COVID-shortened year. However, in the past six months, Fernandez has become a knock-down type shooter. In the two games I saw him with his DC Premier (D.C.) UAA team this weekend, Fernandez knocked down a combined six threes on eight attempts. This was the next step the 6-foot-5 wing needed to take in his game.”
ESPN (Adam Finkelstein): “Justyn Fernandez just keeps coming. Big wing, power body, downhill style, high-rising athlete, soft 3-ball, great motor, and versatile defender. Both his rating and recruitment should be getting a big jump.”
At the time of his commitment, Fernandez wrote, “My relationship with Coach (Kim) English weighed heavy into my decision too. We really got close, just talking every day and growing our bond. From the first day we talked, he knew this summer was gonna be huge for me, but he stayed consistent and wasn’t scared off when the bigger schools jumped in. I liked that approach because that’s kinda my mentality, just playing with a chip and believing in myself, so I could really identify with that.”
2. One of the more interesting tidbits to come out of Kim English’s press conference came in response to a question from the Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call’s Brendan McGair who asked English about his New England Prep connections from his days at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, MA.