Bryce Hopkins has been named to the Naismith Trophy watch list for the second straight year.
The Providence College senior enters the 2024-25 campaign among 50 players on the radar for national men’s college basketball Player of the Year honors.
Hopkins was a preseason All-Big East selection at the league’s media day in October and is expected to return early this season from a long-term left knee injury. He played in just 14 games in 2023-24, averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds. That followed a breakout 2022-23 season in which he piled up 10 double-doubles and challenged for league Player of the Year honors.
Hopkins last appeared in a Jan. 3 home game against Seton Hall, leaving early in the second half. The Friars finished 21-14 overall and 10-10 in league play, reaching the conference tournament semifinals. They fell shy of an NCAA Tournament bid and lost to Boston College in the opening round of the NIT.
Devin Carter filled in for Hopkins as Providence’s star, developing into the conference Player of the Year and a lottery pick in the NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. A postseason berth and that quick rise from one of his players were highlights for coach Kim English in his Friars debut. Providence will be searching for more after being picked sixth at the league’s media day, which was held at Madison Square Garden.
Hopkins is one of seven players from the league named to the Naismith watch list. Villanova forward Eric Dixon, Marquette guard Kam Jones, Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner, Connecticut forward Alex Karaban, Connecticut forward Liam McNeeley and St. John’s guard Kadary Richmond joined Hopkins among the preseason nominees. Kalkbrenner was named the conference’s preseason Player of the Year at media day.
Hopkins will miss at least the Monday opener against Central Connecticut State at Amica Mutual Pavilion. His timeline to return is to be determined, but he has been able to participate in portions of practice during the preseason. Hopkins did not play in a closed-door scrimmage with Saint Joseph’s or in a charity exhibition win over Massachusetts.
Corey Floyd Jr. led with 19 points in a 63-54 win over the Minutemen. Bensley Joseph added 13 points and eight assists, debuting with the Friars after a transfer from Miami. Freshman big man Oswin Erhunmwunse added 12 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots while starting and playing 19 minutes.
