Head coach Kim English on expansion: ‘I don’t think the Providence Friars will continue at…

Providence basketball coach Kim English has a warning for teams attempting to lure his players away.

Kim English spoke the calm portion aloud. His heated social media statement late Tuesday night seems like a suitable conclusion to the latest round of transfer portal mystery. That window was set to close Wednesday, with no more basketball players eligible to compete before the 2024-25 season.

Providence College’s men’s coach made some not-so-veiled references to alleged tampering with members of his expected roster for next year. The Friars did their work early in this current cycle, securing four commitments — they were thought to be done with additions and subtractions well ahead of time. It appears there might have been some late attempts to lure at least one of their players into further gauging his value on the open market.

“Just call me and [let me know] if you want to recruit our players,” English said. “Leave them and their families alone. Call me. I’ll see if they want to play for your programs.”

English didn’t mention a specific name of any rival coach who might have made contact. He also didn’t reveal which Providence returners or newcomers might have been targeted. Whether or not he eventually goes public with that information isn’t the point here.

This process is begging for meaningful reform. The NCAA obstructed and deflected and denied for years until getting bounced out of state and federal court in a series of embarrassing defeats. What’s become obvious over time — whatever version of amateurism they hoped to enforce while profiting exponentially has been shattered.

 

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