The transfer portal has finally closed. No more college basketball players may participate. Most fans of the sport can’t wait for it to happen. Kim English, Providence men’s coach, was among many who were on edge in the final hours. Opposing coaches allegedly meddling with his players prompted the Friars leader to fume on social media.
We may expect less mobility once courses end and the summer timetable takes hold. The University of Rhode Island men and Bryant women received commitments this week, as the NBA Draft scenario began to take shape. Here’s a slew of updates over the last several days, including athletes, coaching staff members, and more.
Providence men:
Jabri Abdur-Rahim, Wesley Cardet Jr., Christ Essandoko, and Bensley Joseph.
The Friars have announced the formal signings of their transfer class. Abdur-Rahim (Georgia), Cardet (Chicago State), Essandoko (Saint Joseph’s), and Joseph (Miami) will all join Providence for the 2024-25 season. Essandoko preserves three years of eligibility, while Abdur-Rahim, Cardet, and Joseph will complete their careers.
Rhode Island men
Drissa Traore, Brandon Weston, James Whitford, and Christen Cunningham
The Rams began the week by signing Traore and releasing Weston. They also changed the coaching staff with Whitford’s entrance and Cunningham’s departure.
Traore committed to URI after leaving St. John’s. He appeared in 28 games off the bench for the Red Storm last season, averaging 1.7 points and 1.2 rebounds. Traore joins David Fuchs and David Green in the Rams frontcourt rotation.
Weston committed to Tennessee State after using the portal in April. He started 10 of his 27 games last season, averaging 5.4 points and 2.5 rebounds. Weston played 59 games for URI over two seasons after transferring from Seton Hall.
Whitford was the previous head coach at Ball State and worked with Archie Miller for two seasons at Arizona from 2009 to 2011. He fills the assistant position left vacant by Kenny Johnson, who was hired by Georgetown. Cunningham left for Charleston and will work as an assistant coach and general manager for Chris Mack, who recruited him to play guard at Louisville in 2018-19.
Rhode Island women
May Toure
Touré switched her commitment from Maryland to Utah and will finish her undergraduate career with the Utes.. The former Rams forward has averaged double-digit points in each of her previous two seasons in Kingston. She entered the gate after guiding URI to two WNIT berths and a spot in the Atlantic 10 tournament championship game.
San Diego Transfer Harsimran Kaur and new centre Albina Syla are expected to fight for Toure’s frontcourt minutes..
Bryant Women
Mariona Planes Fortuny and Jana Aubà Ribas
The Bulldogs lost their lead in the paint option in the portal when Planes Fortuny committed to George Washington. She was a four-year standout at Bryant, averaging at least 15.6 points in the last two seasons and 6.2 rebounds in the last three. Throughout her career, Planes Fortuny received many all-league honours from the Northeast Conference and the America East.
Aubà Ribas has played at her age level for the Spain national team, adding to the Bulldogs’ international representation.Expected returners Silvia Gonzalez, Alejandra Ferreiros, and Martina Boba are all natives of Spain.Gonzalez and Boba averaged 12.5 points per game in 2023-2.4
Similarly, Brycen Goodine Goodine committed to Oklahoma this week and will spend his final college season there. He grew up in New Bedford and attended St. Andrew’s before going on to play at Syracuse, Providence, and Fairfield. Goodine averaged 13.9 points per game and hit 46.7% from three for the Stags in 2023-24. He helped Fairfield win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game and competed in the postseason College Basketball Invitational.
NBA Draft candidates include
Wesley Cardet Jr., Devin Carter, Garwey Dual, Tyler Kolek, and Kino Lilly Jr.
Cardet, Carter, Dual, Kolek, and Lilly were among the 195 players that submitted papers to be reviewed for the 2024 NBA Draft, which will take place in New York on June 26 and 27.
Between now and the May 29 withdrawal deadline, college athletes can participate in individual and group workouts, interviews with team officials, and receive input from agents and scouts. Cardet and Lilly are likely to return to Providence and Brown, respectively. Carter and Kolek are projected to stay in the draft pool, while Dual is on the transfer portal and appears likely to leave the Friars after one season.
Carter and Kolek are among the 78 players invited to the Draft Combine, which will take place in Chicago from May 12 to 19. Carter is a likely first-round pick after winning the Big East Player of the Year award with Providence. Kolek, a Cumberland native and Marquette guard, is expecting to hear his name called following three successful years with the Golden Eagles.
Dual has been invited to the G League Elite Camp, which will be held on May 11 and 12 in Chicago. Based on his performance at the combine, he may be assigned to the following position.
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