2016 Big Man Dylan Painter Cuts List to 7, Providence Out

While one member of Team Final — Tony Carr — that had Providence in his final 5 schools committed elsewhere on Monday afternoon, Dylan Painter cut his list to a final 7 and did not include the Friars. The 6’10 big man from Hershey, PA cut his list down on Monday night to 7 and Providence made the cut, along with George Washington, NC State, Penn State, St. Joseph’s, URI, Villanova and Xavier. Painter was officially offered by the Friars on July 10th during the 1st live evaluation period of the month. His most recent offer could be a tough team to beat in Villanova. The Wildcats offered Painter earlier on Monday.

Providence’s two priorities in the class of 2016 appear to be a point guard to replace Kris Dunn and a big man to help fill the void left by the transfer of Paschal Chukwu. The point guard search continues after Tony Carr committed to Penn State and it appears Shamorie Ponds — a player that has Providence in his final 4 — will likely choose between St. John’s and Minnesota, according to sources.

The Friars also have offers out to a number of big men in the class of 2016, including officially offering Worcester Academy and BABC PF Kevin Marfo Monday. Other big men with offers in the class of 2016 are Eddie Ekiyor, Sedee Keita, Mike Layssard, JJ Matthews, Bamba Ndiaye and Kassoum Yakwe. Keita just announced he is transferring to Putnam Science Academy while Yakwe is still an option to reclassify into 2015 and enroll at a college in the next few weeks.

Ed Cooley has at least 1 and possibly 3 open scholarships for the class of 2016 with the likely departure of Kris Dunn to the NBA and the potential for Junior Lomomba to become a graduate transfer — not to mention a possible transfer if you do the college basketball math these days. Providence would like to replace Dunn in 2016 with another dynamic player but the priority for 2016 should be in the frontcourt where the Friars are painfully thin at the moment. With the Providence staff being involved with a number of talented guards in the class of 2017 and the surplus of guards currently in the program adding a versatile big man would be a great way to start things off in the class of 2016. Providence will have to keep looking.

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Mike Hopkins

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