Providence basketball to play in Bahamas tourney; comings and goings at Bryant, URI
College basketball news continued to trickle out from multiple corners of the state on Thursday.
Providence officially booked a nonconference tournament for November. Bryant made an addition via the transfer portal while the University of Rhode Island saw a fourth player enter.
The Interscholastic League’s all-time leading scorer also found a new home, leaving the Bulldogs for the Division II ranks.
Rafael Pinzon, Louis Hutchinson and Erickson Bans are the names to know. Here’s where you’ll be able to find them entering the 2023-24 season.
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Providence basketball heading to Bahamas
The Friars confirmed their spot at the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship, which will be held Nov. 17-19 in Nassau. Final Four participant Miami, Elite Eight qualifier Kansas State and a fourth team to be determined will join Providence in paradise.
The Hurricanes handed the Friars a 74-64 defeat at Mohegan Sun Arena this season, part of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off. They’re coached by former Providence point guard Jim Larrañaga, who reached the national semifinals 17 years after guiding George Mason on its special run in 2006.
More: One-time Rick Barnes assistant, Dennis Felton, is back in Providence after 25 years
The Wildcats were a national surprise under first-year coach Jerome Tang, who quickly built a winner after spending nearly two decades on the Baylor bench under Scott Drew. Florida Atlantic stopped Kansas State in the East Region final, extending its own unexpected journey to the season’s final weekend.
The Friars are guaranteed two games in the field — matchups and television information will be settled at a later date. Visit www.bahamarhoops.com for more information.
Rafael Pinzon leaves St. John's for Bryant
Pinzon will join Bryant after spending his first two seasons at St. John’s. He’s part of the mass exodus in Queens after Mike Anderson was fired and Rick Pitino was introduced as the next coach of the Red Storm.
Pinzon was a coveted recruit out of prep power Long Island Lutheran. He selected the Red Storm ahead of offers from the likes of Florida, Georgia Tech, Dayton and others. He hit double figures six times in 2022-23, including impressive outings against Iowa State, Providence and Connecticut.
Pinzon averaged 6.1 points and 1.9 rebounds while appearing in 19 games last season. He’ll add good perimeter size for the Bulldogs next season at 6 feet 6 inches. There is potential for him to evolve as a contributor from 3-point range — Pinzon shot 35.6% in a limited sample as a sophomore.
Louis Hutchinson leaves Rhode Island basketball
Hutchinson is considering leaving the Rams after one season. He joins former teammates Ishmael Leggett, Sebastian Thomas and Abdou Samb among those who could depart Kingston.
Hutchinson was a late addition in the spring after Archie Miller was hired at URI and didn’t carve out much of a role as a freshman. He netted 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting in an early win over Stony Brook but never was able to build any momentum with respect to regular playing time. Hutchinson scored just three points after a Dec. 7 home loss against in-state rival Brown.
More: Rhode Island basketball lands recruit Tyson Brown
Hutchinson is a Maryland native who finished his prep career in New York. His open scholarship could go to a host of targets currently being chased by the Rams. They secured a commitment on Wednesday from junior college power forward Tyson Brown and are involved with Bryant guard Charles Pride, Temple guard Khalif Battle, High Point guard Jaden House, Colgate forward Keegan Records, a South Kingstown native, and others.
Pawtucket's Erickson Bans leaves Bryant for Florida Southern
A source confirmed to The Journal that Bans has committed to Florida Southern and will resume his career after leaving the Bulldogs midway through the 2022-23 season.
Bryant planned to redshirt Bans before he opted to step away from the roster. He made 48 appearances and six starts for the Bulldogs through his first two seasons, hitting double figures six times. One of those occasions was the Northeast Conference semifinals against Sacred Heart in 2020-21, an 85-55 home blowout.
More: Dan Hurley made Rhode Island basketball a winner; taking UConn to Final Four is no surprise
Bans piled up 2,605 points during a decorated career at Shea High and reunites with a familiar face at the Division II level. Luke St. Lifer is an assistant coach at his alma mater — he spent three years on staff with the Bulldogs as the director of basketball operations and the director of basketball analytics. The Moccasins finished 19-9 this season and won a national championship in 2014-15 while St. Lifer was a student manager.
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence basketball will play in a Bahamas tournament in November
