The transfer portal floodgates burst open on Monday, with four more Friars joining Bryce Hopkins and Justyn Fernandez in exploring new opportunities. Jayden Pierre, Christ Essandoko, Eli DeLaurier, and Anton Bonke have all officially declared their intentions to enter the portal, signaling a significant roster shake-up for the program.
Jayden Pierre is the real headliner of the group having played all three years of his collegiate career at Providence College.
Pierre found himself in an unexpected and challenging role this past season, shouldering the Friars’ scoring burden—an unfair responsibility for him to bear. The original plan was for Bryce Hopkins to be the primary scoring option, with Wesley Cardet Jr. expected to complement him as the secondary threat.
Hopkins, who averaged 15.8 points per game in his first year at Providence, was putting up 15.5 points per game before a knee injury cut his second season short. Cardet, despite playing at a lower level with Chicago State, posted impressive scoring averages of 16.6 and 18.7 points per game in his sophomore and junior seasons, respectively. While a dip in production was anticipated as he transitioned to Big East competition, the hope was that, freed from the burden of carrying an entire offense, he could still contribute in the low-teens—more than enough to meet the team’s needs.
The third scoring option should have naturally fallen to Jayden Pierre and Bensley Joseph as a dynamic backcourt duo, benefiting from the defensive attention drawn by Hopkins and Cardet’s ability to attack the rim. Instead, both guards were forced into primary scoring roles—responsibilities that didn’t align with their skill sets on a nightly basis. As a result, Pierre’s shot volume increased to double digits per game (10.7 attempts), but his efficiency suffered, posting career-low percentages in field goals (39.8%) and three-pointers (34.2%). His role as the team’s primary ball handler also significantly impacted his playing time, as he logged a team-high 34.2 minutes per game—the only Friar to average more than 30 minutes on the season.
Pierre would likely thrive in a system where he isn’t relied upon as the primary or secondary scoring option and has the flexibility to play off the ball at times. Throughout his time at Providence, he was a consummate teammate, and Friartown should appreciate his contributions, wishing him nothing but the best in his next chapter.
Stop me if you’v heard this one before but Christ Essandoko is headed away from Providence.
Essandoko initially committed to Providence under former head coach Ed Cooley but was unable to enroll due to eligibility issues. As a result, he took his talents to the Atlantic 10, landing at St. Joseph’s, where he redshirted before making his freshman debut. In his lone season with the Hawks, he started 14 games (only appearing in 25 total despite dealing with injuries) and showcased his ability to stretch the floor, knocking down 36.8% of his three-point attempts on 1.5 tries per game. Even after trimming down before donning a Friars uniform, Essandoko remained an imposing presence, standing a legitimate 7 feet tall and weighing in at 290 pounds.
Much like his freshman season, Christ was once again hampered by nagging injuries, limiting him to just 22 games. Initially expected to provide a contrasting skill set to Oswin with his size, shooting range, and physical presence, Essandoko struggled to find consistency. He connected on just 3 of 14 three-point attempts, often finding himself out of position defensively. His shooting efficiency took a steep decline, dropping from 36.8% to 21.4% from beyond the arc and from 64.9% to 52.8% at the free-throw line. Meanwhile, his scoring output was nearly cut in half, falling from 8.2 points per game to 4.3, despite maintaining a steady 15 minutes of playing time per contest.
Given his size and glimpses of potential, Christ will likely attract plenty of interest from programs looking to develop his skill set. However, he may find greater success at the mid-major level, where he’ll have more opportunities to play through mistakes and refine his game, much like Rafael Castro did at George Washington this past season.
Next up, is Eli DeLaurier.
I’d be hard-pressed to find a player on the roster who plays with more energy and intensity than Eli DeLaurier. After redshirting his first year as a late commitment, he still has three years of eligibility remaining. Whenever he stepped on the floor, he brought relentless effort, held his own defensively against bigger opponents, and even flashed some shooting potential, knocking down 5 of his 15 three-point attempts.
DeLaurier is exactly the kind of player every team needs. Someone who pushes the starters in practice while steadily developing within the system. While it may take another couple of years before he becomes a consistent contributor, his work ethic suggests he’ll find a way to make an impact. I definitely would not bet against this kid.
This next transfer portal announcement hurts a little bit.
A clear fan favorite, Anton Bonke offered exciting glimpses of the player he could become. At 7’2″ and 270 pounds, he possesses rare athleticism for his size, paired with a great attitude and tremendous upside. In extremely limited action, Bonke was highly efficient, shooting 75% (9-of-12) while contributing 21 points, 19 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 4 assists in just 104 minutes of play.
What stands out most is his relentless pursuit on the glass. Of his 19 rebounds, 13 came on the offensive end. For context, Oswin ranked 28th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage at 14.3%, while Bonke, though not qualifying due to limited minutes, posted an impressive 14.7% rate. He’s simply an offensive rebounding magneet whenever he’s on the floor.
I’m holding out hope that he returns as a key frontcourt depth piece and continues to develop his game—because with his potential, the best is yet to come.
The Morning Hangover 