2024-25 college basketball preview: Ranking the top 50 players and coaches
FOX Sports college basketball reporter John Fanta reveals his list of the top 50 names — players and coaches – to watch throughout the road...NOVEMBER 4
PROVIDENCE FRIARS 5-0 · 3RD IN BIG EAST
5-0 · 3RD IN BIG EAST
Next Game vs Oklahoma · Wed 10:00PM
Rich Barron - Available Monday Barron (lower body) is available for Monday's game against Central Connecticut, college basketball journalist Kevin McNamara reports.
Impact Barron is available for Saturday's season opener according to head coach King English. The 6-foot-5 sophomore appeared in 33 games with the Friars last season, averaging 4.4 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists on 15.8 minutes per game.
NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Christ Essandoko - Set to play in opener Essandoko is active for Monday's game versus Central Connecticut, college basketball journalist Kevin McNamara reports.
Impact Essandoko was dealing with a hand injury late into the preseason, but is still ready to go for the start of the season. He will have an especially important role to play in the front court with Bryce Hopkins (knee) out.
NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Bryce Hopkins - Unavailable in opener Hopkins (knee) isn't available in Providence's opener against Central Connecticut, college basketball journalist Kevin McNamara reports.
Impact Hopkins wasn't expected to play given his knee injury, and this simply confirms those suspicions. The forward is one of the premier big men in the Big East and in the nation, but the Friars will need to wait until at least Nov. 9 against Stonehill before he takes the court.
NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Jayden Pierre - Ready to go for opener Pierre is set to play in Monday's game versus Central Connecticut, college basketball journalist Kevin McNamara reports.
Impact Pierre will play in Monday's opener after dealing with a groin injury late in the preseason. He started 31 of 32 games last season and averaged 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 30.4 minutes per game.
NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Jabri Abdur-Rahim - Ready to roll for opener Abdur-Rahim (personal) is set to play in Monday's opener versus Central Connecticut, Ian Steele of ABC6 Providence reports.
Impact Abdur-Rahim missed the Friars' recent charity game due to a personal problem, but he is ready to go for the season opener. He will make his Providence debut Monday after transferring to the program from Georgia.
NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Providence Friars open season at home against the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils
The Providence Friars host the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils in the season openerNOVEMBER 4 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Providence hosts Cent. Conn. St. in season opener
NOVEMBER 3 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sinclair scores in retirement match, Thorns down Angel City 3-0 to clinch playoff spot before 23,000
Christine Sinclair scored in her celebratory retirement match and the Portland Thorns clinched a playoff spot with a 3-0 victory over Angel CityNOVEMBER 2 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jabri Abdur-Rahim - Unsurprisingly logs DNP Abdur-Rahim did not play during Providence's charity game Saturday against Massachusetts due to a personal problem, per sports journalist Kevin McNamara.
Impact With the college basketball world rocked by the death of Abdur-Rahim's uncle and South Florida's ex-head coach Amir, the senior is one of several in his family expected to be grieving. While it can be understandable if Abdur-Rahim wants to sit out indefinitely, sports journalist Kevin McNamara recently reported that Providence's head coach is hopeful the senior will be available Nov. 4. It is when the 2024-25 Friars are expected to begin their regular season.
OCTOBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Christ Essandoko - Hand injury causes preseason DNP Essandoko did not play during Providence's charity game Saturday against Massachusetts due to a hand injury, per sports journalist Kevin McNamara.
Impact Essandoko is one of multiple expected starters out for Providence's charity game Saturday. But excluding Bryce Hopkins (knee), the St. Joseph's transfer is one of several players who were unavailable Saturday but expected to be available for Nov. 4, per a later post by McNamara. It will be then when Providence's 2024-25 season is expected to begin with a home game against Central Connecticut.
OCTOBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Jayden Pierre - Groin injury causes preseason DNP Pierre did not play during Providence's charity game Saturday against Massachusetts due to a groin injury, per sports journalist Kevin McNamara.
Impact Pierre being out resulted in Providence's starting backcourt including Miami transfer Bensley Joseph and rotational starter Corey Floyd. As a result, Pierre's injury status is questionable as the 2024-25 Friars prepare for their season opener against Central Connecticut on Nov. 4. According to a later post by McNamara, Pierre is among all but one player (Bryce Hopkins) he believes can be ready by then.
OCTOBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Bryce Hopkins - Unsurprisingly logs DNP Hopkins (knee) did not play during Providence's charity game Saturday against Massachusetts, according to sports journalist Kevin McNamara.
Impact Considering that Hopkins' injury status was doubtful for Nov. 4, even before the charity game, it should be unsurprising he did not play Saturday. Even worse, one of McNamara's later posts quoted Providence head coach Kim English saying he was not confident about Hopkins being available for the November game, making his status still doubtful.
OCTOBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
With Hopkins healthy, Providence looks to build on coach Kim English's 21-win first season
In Kim English’s first year on the bench, the Friars had their third straight 20-win season and edged their way into The Associated Press Top 25 for two weeksOCTOBER 23 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bryce Hopkins - Doubtful for Nov. 4 Hopkins (knee) is doubtful for Providence's game against Central Connecticut State on Nov. 4, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
Impact When asked about Hopkins being fully cleared, Providence's head coach Kim English said "probably not Game 1, but day-to-day thereafter" for the senior. Game 1 is scheduled against Central Connecticut State on Nov. 4. So now, Hopkins' availability status is doubtful for then. Ideally for him, he makes positive strides before the Friars begin their 2024-25 season.
AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE
Jayden Pierre - Looking bigger and stronger Pierre is reportedly looking bigger and stronger this offseason and could be primed for another breakout season, per Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
Impact Pierre took a step forward for the Friars in 2023, averaging 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a sophomore, and appears to be on track to make another potential leap heading into the 2024 season. The 6-foot-2 guard will likely be called upon for a larger role for the Friars this season following the departure of star guard Devin Carter and will hope to be able to fill the shoes of the former All-American.
AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE
Why Sacramento Kings picked Providence guard Devin Carter in 2024 NBA Draft Sacramento Kings general manager Monte McNair talks about selecting Providence guard Devin Carter with No. 13 pick in 2024 NBA draft.
JUNE 27 • SACBEE.COM
2024 college basketball transfer portal tracker: KSU gets Coleman Hawkins in NIL record
The end of the 2023-24 men's college basketball regular season means that the transfer portal is open once again. Here are some of the bigge...JUNE 14
Red Stars set NWSL attendance record but fall to Bay FC 2-1 at Wrigley Field
Bay FC got goals from Kiki Pickett and Joelle Anderson to beat the Chicago Red Stars 2-1 in front of a National Women’s Soccer League single-game record of 35,038 fans at Wrigley F...JUNE 9 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rumor: Spurs high on Providence guard Devin Carter ahead of draft Carter could be a potential target of the Spurs, as the organization is said to be interested in him.
JUNE 7 • USATODAY.COM
NWSL's Portland Thorns add investors, including Columbia Sportswear's Tim Boyle
Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle and Phoenix Suns co-owner Sam Garvin have joined the ownership group for the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer LeagueMAY 23 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
2024 NBA Mock Draft: Hawks take Alex Sarr with top pick; Donovan Clingan to Rockets
FOX Sports' John Fanta offers up his first 2024 NBA Mock Draft, with the Atlanta Hawks selecting French star Alex Starr at No. 1 and a pair...MAY 16
NBA Draft Combine results, winners: Reed Sheppard, Zach Edey shine bright in Chicago
With the 2024 NBA Draft Combine coming to a close, FOX Sports' John Fanta lists seven players who elevated their draft stock.MAY 16
College basketball is in a state of chaos, but it's not beyond fixing
Constant free agency without guardrails? That's the modern era of college basketball. John Fanta spoke to several college coaches about the...MAY 2
2024 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: How high will Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan go?
Perth Wildcats center Alex Sarr seems to be the consensus No. 1 overall pick, but what does the rest of the draft look like? Jason McIntyre...APRIL 18
