Providence Recruiting Update: New Offer to 2016 PG, Another 2016 Guard Heading Elsewhere?

It’s been a little while since I did my last recruiting update post. Part of that is because things have been somewhat quiet on the recruiting front. There are a few new developments that should be noted as the calendar turns to September tomorrow. First is that Providence has extended an offer to another point guard in the class of 2016. More on that below. Second, and not necessarily unrelated to the first, is that it appears Shamorie Ponds may be slipping away from the Friars. Let’s get into each of these.

Providence Offers Justice

The Friars joined a growing list of high major schools that have now offered 2016 point guard Justice Kithcart. Pittsburgh and Creighton got in just ahead of Providence, while DePaul is the most recent to jump on Kithcart’s bandwagon on August 29th. All of these offers have been extended in the last 2.5 weeks so it’s fair to say that Kitchart’s recruitment is beginning to take off. Prior to these offers Kitchart’s recruitment consisted of schools like Charlotte, Duquesne, East Carolina, James Madison, Old Dominion, Towson and other mid-majors. So far he has official visits scheduled to Pittsburgh (9/11), Creighton and Old Dominion.

Kithcart ran with Team Loaded VA on the grassroots circuit this spring and summer. Team Loaded VA played on the adidas Gauntlet circuit and Kithcart showed very well for a team that featured top players like Mamadi Diakite (Virginia commit) and Javin Delaurier (top 40 player). During adidas Gauntlet play Kithcart averaged 11.3 points/game, 3.0 rebounds/game and 2.3 assists/game.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNTjjwwpUig]

Team Loaded VA squared off against Wenyen Gabriel and the Mass Rivals on ESPNU for the championship of the adidas Uprising Summer Championships in Las Vegas at the end of the July live periods. During 7 games at the adidas Uprising Summer Championships Kithcart averaged 11.4 points/game, 6.4 assist/game and 3.6 rebounds/game. That also includes double-doubles in the quarterfinal and semifinal games and a 16 point, 6 assist, 6 rebound performance in the finals game in which Team Loaded VA defeated Gabriel and Mass Rivals.

Ship Sailing on Ponds?

2016 NYC guard Shamorie Ponds completed his official visit to St. John’s over the weekend. The visit to the Queens campus marked Ponds’ second official visit with the first one being out to Creighton. Ponds does have 2 more scheduled official visits on the calendar: Providence (9/11-9/13) and Minnesota (9/18-9/20). One source familiar with the recruitment “would be shocked” if Ponds didn’t pick the Red Storm but, as of now, Ponds is planning on taking his other visits before deciding among his final 4 schools, according to his father.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fMGt6mzm7M]

One reason the Friars may have extended an offer to Kithcart is that they are feeling less confident about their chances with Ponds and/or Maliek White. White is scheduled to visit Providence in early October with his River City Reign teammate JJ Matthews. White also received an offer from Georgia Tech over the weekend and is scheduled to visit Pittsburgh (9/19) and Cincinnati (9/26) in addition to the visit to Friartown. It remains to be seen if Georgia Tech will get a visit from the Virginia native.

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2 responses to “Providence Recruiting Update: New Offer to 2016 PG, Another 2016 Guard Heading Elsewhere?”

  1. […] ICYMI – Providence Recruiting Update: New Offer to 2016 PG, Another 2016 Guard Heading Elsewhere? […]

  2. […] commitment shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that followed this recruitment. Ponds has been leaning towards St. John’s for months and was rumored to want to commit […]

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