Last Tuesday, the Providence Senior Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations organized a media availability for the local outlets with coach Kim English and captain Corey Floyd. Before the availability, we were allowed to watch a team scrimmage. Based on that, I would like to make a few observations about this year’s team.
First thing that everyone noticed was the intensity of nearly everyone on the floor. Looking back on last season, Coach English often mentioned in post-game press conferences that there was not enough communication and intensity on the defensive end of the court. On Tuesday, at 8:00 a.m., there was constant communication and aggressive play, with no easy shots or layups. One player who stood out in this respect was Florida State transfer Daquan Davis. His defense was right up in the face of whomever he was guarding, and on multiple occasions he went after teammates going for a fast break dunk. Similarly, he showed one speed on the offensive end, constantly pushing the ball on rebounds or after baskets, and his ability to penetrate opened three-point shots for the wings.
Read more: Brian Reddy: Beyond the Box Score – Thoughts from Media Availability
Another player whose intensity with the ball drew attention was UCF transfer Jaylin Sellers. The term ‘attacking the basket’ was made for Jaylin. Every time he penetrated, he made sure that he either got to the rim or there was a foul. He is also built comparably to Corey Floyd, and I can see them causing problems for their opponents as part of a much bigger and athletic team this year. Because of his injury last season that limited him to three games, Sellers does not appear to be getting the attention he deserves from national observers of the sport. It is easy to forget that he was the fourth leading scorer in the Big 12 in 2023-24, a year in which the Big 12 was the top-rated conference in the country. He also got to the line 152 times that year, and for comparison, Corey Floyd led the Friars with 80 attempts last year.
The two freshman recruits, Jamier Jones and Jaylen Harrell both showed flashes as well. Jones physically looks like and upper classman and works like a veteran around the basket. Harrell appeared smooth and hit every open shot he took. Unlike Oswin Erhunmwunse and Ryan Mela last year, these two should have the luxury of developing at their own paces without the pressure of being thrown into the fire before they are ready.
Coach English made a point to the media after the scrimmage that the rotational issues were a problem last year (in no small part to injuries) and that the staff worked hard to ensure that this is not an issue this year. He noted that the players will set the rotation, and that the ideas for a rotation that he has after the summer sessions will invariably be different by the time November rolls around. English also discussed that he was glad to have the players who returned to lead the program as players that have committed to the team, the school, and to Friartown. He said he used the returning players as sounding boards, soliciting their input on the players they were recruiting to ensure a good fit. It is interesting that three of the returning players, Oswin, Ryan, and Rich Barron were all limited last year as they recovered from injuries. This has been a different summer for them as they have been regulars on the floor and in the weight room.
After Coach English finished, Corey Floyd spoke to the media, and his leadership of the team was on full display in the scrimmage and in the interview. I mentioned earlier about how the communication during the scrimmage was much more pronounced, but Corey was also acting as a coach on the floor to his teammates by pointing out issues and offering encouragement. During the interview, he made sure to credit his teammates and the staff and the community of this group. He face-timed the new portal signings as they joined the fold, making sure they knew what Friartown was like, so they were ready to hit the ground running.
I would like to finish by making observations on a couple of players I have praised over the last two years. Coach English discussed the importance of Corey’s leadership as a four-year Friar and the fact that he is the first second-generation scholarship player in school’s history. With a number of former Friar players having sons that are playing basketball and earning scholarships, there will likely be more who follow their father’s footsteps, but Corey is setting the standard as the first. I have also been fortunate enough to met and had a number of conversations with Corey’s parents in the last year. They are the type of parents who understand what is expected of their son and allow the staff to do their job. I admire the way the quietly went to their seats at the AMP in the many games they attended and did not try to draw attention to themselves. They were simply there cheering for their son and the Friars, and I never heard any negativity from them in a season where it would be easy to express frustration publicly. Corey is an outstanding representative of Friartown and clearly has proud parents guiding him.
Lastly, I want to expand a little on Oswin Erhunmwunse. To be open, Oswin has a personal relationship and friendship with my nieces and nephews, and I first met him the summer before he committed to Friartown. Watching him develop since he first came to Friartown has been impressive. Physically, I believe he was under 200 lbs. going into his final year at Putnam Science Academy and Coach English mentioned that he’s close to 250 lbs. now. He also made great strides over his freshman year as he healed from shoulder surgery, and his game appears to have taken another major step forward since the end of the season. Having a strong work ethic combined with being fully healthy has made a great difference for Oswin.
The other thing is how he has shown himself to be an outstanding ambassador for Providence College. After school ended, he returned to Nigeria to visit family and also made donations to assist the next group of Nigerians looking for a better life. Then yesterday we saw Oswin go to the local Walmart and helped families purchase food and school supplies for the upcoming year.
As an alumnus of Providence College, I recognize that the Men’s basketball team is the most visible representation of the school and can often play an outsized role in how the public views the college. Fortunately, with players like Corey, Oswin, and others, people are getting to see examples of what makes Providence College special.
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