1. Garwey Dual – Seton Hall
Garwey Dual is the one former Friar who all of Friartown is most familiar with where he is playing this season. After declaring for the NBA Draft and going through the draft process, Dual ultimately returned to college basketball, transferring within the Big East to a Seton Hall team in dire need of reinforcements. The Pirates were left scrambling for talent after losing their own star, Kadary Richmond, who transferred within the conference to St. John’s, along with several key contributors from last season’s roster.
Dual appeared in 33 games for the Friars last season after re-committing to Providence following the coaching change from Ed Cooley to Kim English. Averaging 18.6 minutes per game, Dual had difficulty finding his offensive rhythm, shooting just 33.1% from the field, 25.0% from beyond the arc, and 66.7% from the free-throw line. Despite these struggles, he showcased moments of exceptional athleticism—and a sneaky right hook—but his Freshman season was marked by inconsistency and ups and downs.
In Seton Hall’s season opener against St. Peter’s, Dual earned the starting nod, logging 29 minutes in a tense 57-53 win for the Pirates. He led the team with 5 assists, though he also topped the team with 4 turnovers. Offensively, he struggled, finishing 1-for-4 from the field and missing both of his free-throw attempts, ultimately recording just 2 points. However, his length and speed on defense were undeniable, as he led the Pirates with 3 steals. While it’s just one game, Seton Hall will need Dual to elevate his play if they hope to make a dent in the competitive Big East this season.
2. Brycen Goodine – Oklahoma
Brycen Goodine is now in his sixth year of college basketball and at his fourth school, where he will complete his eligibility with Oklahoma. Goodine began his career at Syracuse, transferring to Providence after just one season. He spent two years in Friartown before moving to nearby Fairfield.
Unfortunately, just four games into his stint with the Stags, he suffered a season-ending injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year. After making a full recovery, Goodine returned to the court, finally able to showcase the athleticism and three-point shooting that had made him an exciting prospect. Last season, he shot an impressive 46.7% from three on over five attempts per game, earning MAAC Sixth Man of the Year honors and a spot on the All-MAAC Third Team.
Goodine made his first start for what appears to be a talented Oklahoma team this season, scoring 11 points and going 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. The Sooners cruised to an easy victory over a significantly overmatched Lindenwood team, with all 13 players seeing action on the floor. Oklahoma’s next three games—against Northwestern State, Stetson, and East Texas A&M—are expected to follow a similar script before they face the Friars in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.
3. Jyare Davis – Syracuse
Jyare Davis redshirted his Freshman season at Providence, showing promise as a player who could be the next Alpha Diallo for the Friars—an undersized forward with the ability to play both inside and out, and who played much bigger than his size. However, after his redshirt year, Davis chose to transfer back to his home state, joining the University of Delaware. Due to the transfer rules in place at the time, he had to sit out for a full season before making his debut for the Blue Hens.
In just three seasons at the University of Delaware, Jyare Davis totaled 1,301 points (13th all-time) and 532 rebounds (29th all-time), consistently improving each year. Had he simply matched his numbers from last season, he would have finished in the Top Ten in Delaware’s history in both categories—3rd all-time in scoring and 9th in rebounds. In his Freshman year, Davis was named CAA Rookie of the Year and earned CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. The following season, he was named to the All-CAA Third Team, and in his final year, he was elevated to the All-CAA Second Team.
In his debut game as a member of Syracuse, Davis notched his first double-double for the Orange coming off the bench with team-highs in points (22) and rebounds (12). Davis was practically unstoppable against Le Moyne, shooting an efficient 7-of-9 from the field and feasting at the free throw line, going 8-for-11. It’s hard to imagine Davis staying in a reserve role for long this season.
Out of everyone on this list, he was the one player who I wanted to stay more than all the others.
4. Rafael Castro – George Washington
If there was a former Friar who could benefit from a change of scenery, it was likely Rafael Castro. Over his two years at Providence, “Slim” struggled to establish himself as a consistently reliable presence in the frontcourt. At George Washington, he’ll have the opportunity to work through his mistakes and growing pains—something he needs in order to develop the confidence to play freely. I was surprised that Castro didn’t get more chances to showcase an outside shot, especially last season in Kim English’s offense. However, if he can incorporate that aspect into his game at GW, it could add a whole new dimension to his skill set.
Slim was always regarded as a great teammate during his time at Providence, and with an expanded role at George Washington, he has the potential to put up impressive numbers in the A-10. In his debut against Mercyhurst, Castro earned the start at Center and delivered a strong performance, posting a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes before eventually fouling out. He shot 6-for-8 from the field, a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, and also added 4 assists and 2 steals. However, the two issues that limited his consistent minutes with the Friars—foul trouble and turnovers—surfaced again in his first game with GW, as he fouled at a high rate and committed 4 turnovers. While he’ll need to work through these challenges, the increased playing time will allow him to grow and develop, and by season’s end, he should emerge as a much more polished player.
5. Alyn Breed – McNeese State
Alyn Breed was a steady presence for Providence over his three seasons, known for his reliable ball-handling, sound decision-making, and consistent free-throw shooting. The Friars could have greatly benefited from his contributions last season, especially after Bryce Hopkins went down with an injury. However, Breed was suspended indefinitely by the team following charges brought against him by his former girlfriend. The case lingered for far too long, leaving Breed’s basketball future in limbo. By the time he was cleared of any wrongdoing and the matter was resolved, too much time had passed in the season, and the opportunity to make an impact had slipped away.
Breed joined McNeese State late last year, participating in team activities but unable to play in any actual games. Last season, under new Head Coach Will Wade—formerly of LSU—McNeese State had a breakout year, capturing the Southland Conference Tournament Championship and securing the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 22 years. The Cowboys are looking poised for another strong season, with Breed set to play a significant role. In their season opener, a loss to South Dakota State, Breed started at guard and delivered a standout performance, scoring a team-high 18 points—a career-high tying effort from his freshman season at #3 Villanova. He shot an efficient 5-for-9 from the field, a perfect 1-for-1 from three, and 7-for-7 from the free-throw line, adding 3 steals to his stat line.
6. Donovan Santoro – Green Bay
I really like Donovan Santoro. I really don’t like his new Coach at Green Bay, Doug Gottlieb. Therefore I am hoping for a great season for Santoro but in as many losses as possible. Santoro has three years of eligibility left following his lone season at Providence where he played sporadically.
Although Green Bay dropped their season opener to Oklahoma State by 13 points (89-76), the Phoenix unusually rotated all 13 players throughout the game. With such a spread of playing time, it almost felt like the game was a blowout in one direction or the other. Santoro saw the fewest minutes (just 2) on the team and did not register any statistics. Santoro and Green Bay will visit Providence on the 16th, where he can likely expect a warm reception from the Friartown crowd.
7. Matteus Case – William & Mary
Matteus Case is starting his third season as a member of William & Mary after appearing in only 4 games during his redshirt Freshman season at Providence. In his first two seasons as a member of the Tribe, Case started a handful of games (9 in his first season, 8 last season) but has struggled with his shooting over that time (25.8% from three, 37.5% from the field).
Case had a solid first game off the bench for the Tribe albeit against a vastly overmatched Division III Dickinson (PA) team in a game they won by a whopping 48 points. William & Mary play Radford in their next game where we should get a better idea of what kind of role Case will have on this year’s squad.
8. Legend Geeter – Detroit Mercy
Much like Jyare Davis, Legend Geeter redshirted his lone season at Providence before transferring to a school closer to home. Geeter returned to Michigan, enrolling at Eastern Michigan, where he played his freshman season alongside current Cleveland Cavaliers wing, Emoni Bates. Bates, who had a turbulent freshman year at Memphis under Coach Penny Hardaway, was transferred to Eastern Michigan with hopes of rebuilding his NBA Draft stock. At EMU, Bates became the focal point of the offense, averaging 16 shots per game, leaving little room for the rest of the team to get their share.
After spending a second season at Eastern Michigan, Geeter transferred to another Michigan-based school, this time joining Detroit Mercy. He has started the season coming off the bench but will be looking to earn a larger role and more playing time as the year progresses.
9. Greg Gantt Jr. – UNC Asheville
I’ve been following Greg Gantt Jr. since he left Providence and will continue to cheer him on this season. Gantt arrived at Providence as a top-60 recruit but faced some significant personal challenges during his first year away from North Carolina, which impacted his transition to college basketball. However, he seemed to find his footing during his Sophomore season, carving out a consistent role as a reserve and playing more than 20 minutes per game for the Friars.
In another case of a player wanting to be closer to home, Gantt transferred to NC State, where he had to sit out a year before making his debut for the Wolfpack. Once on the court, he became a regular starter, playing a key role in the majority of games in the ACC while battling through some injuries during the season. Similar to Legend Geeter, Gantt eventually made another in-state transfer, this time to UNC Asheville. Throughout his college career, Gantt has rarely sought out his own offense, averaging fewer than two field goal attempts per game over the past two seasons. However, he remains a well-rounded player, contributing in multiple areas of the game with his all-around skill set.
Gantt started in UNC Asheville’s season opener, which, unfortunately for the Bulldogs, was against #2 Alabama. The game turned into a tough matchup, with UNC Asheville getting obliterated by over 50 points. However, with the toughest competition now behind them, things are bound to improve as the Bulldogs face opponents more on their level.
10. Quante Berry – Temple
Quante Berry becomes the third player on this list who redshirted with the Friars without seeing game action before eventually deciding to transfer. He also would have been the fourth player this season facing Providence, but the Friars opted to play in the Battle 4 Atlantis after an opening arose with Creighton departing for the NIL Tournament in Vegas. Berry has since found a new home at Temple, where he’ll play alongside New Mexico transfer Jamal Mashburn Jr. I n his season debut, Berry started at guard and played a team-high 38 minutes in a win over Sacred Heart. He finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block…and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
11. Scott Morozov – University of Victoria
Can’t forget my dude, Scotty Morozov who returned to Canada to play at the University of Victoria.
Best of luck to all the former Friars (except for when they play us).
The Morning Hangover 