Providence College received two welcome pieces of good news on Thursday, both courtesy of players who could develop into program building blocks.
Oswin Erhunmwunse and Ryan Mela will return to the Friars for the 2025-26 season. The freshman pair confirmed their decisions individually on their respective social media pages.
Erhunmwunse and Mela were named to the Big East All-Freshman Team after solid debuts in 2024-25. Erhunmwunse averaged 6.8 points and 5.6 rebounds while starting in 24 of his 32 appearances. Mela added 6.4 points and 5.2 rebounds while playing in 29 games.
“I love this school, the fans, this city,” Erhunmwunse wrote. “And I love wearing this jersey. Let’s build something special here.”
Mar 12, 2025; New York, NY, USA; Providence Friars forward Oswin Erhunmwunse (55) dunks over Butler Bulldogs guard Landon Moore (14) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
“I love this place and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Mela wrote. “Excited to get this place back on top.”
Providence will be in search of a quick turnaround after one of the worst seasons in school history. The Friars tied a program record with 20 losses and finished 6-15 against conference opponents. The last defeat came in the opening round of the league tournament, a 75-69 setback against Butler at Madison Square Garden.
“The work starts,” Providence coach Kim English said that March 12 evening in New York. “Identifying the personnel, the student-athletes who have the right makeup and what it takes to win at a high level — at this level. Cultivating that culture, that standard, every day. That’s how.”
Erhunmwunse currently rates inside the national top 35, per KenPom.com, in defensive rebound percentage, block percentage and 2-point shooting. He represented a significant recruiting win for Providence and reclassified to join the program a year early. Erhunmwunse started each of the final 19 games after some uneven early usage, including single-digit minutes four times.
“We need to get better,” Erhunmwunse said after losing to the Bulldogs. “It’s going to be a big difference. Every team is going to watch out for us next year, because we’re definitely going to be better.”
Mela secured regular minutes going forward after collecting nine points in a December loss to St. Bonaventure at Mohegan Sun. He missed a road defeat at Villanova due to illness but was a factor otherwise, scoring in double figures eight times and notching a pair of double-doubles. Mela was a top-50 defensive rebounder nationally and trailed only Bensley Joseph with the Friars in terms of assist rate.
Providence could lose multiple players off last year’s team when the transfer portal officially opens on Monday. Bryce Hopkins and Justyn Fernandez will both enter, potentially stripping the Friars of a veteran who’s earned previous all-conference honors and a four-star recruit who followed English from George Mason in 2023-24. Jabri Abdur-Rahim will apply for a medical hardship waiver, attempting to create a final year of eligibility after being honored with Joseph, Hopkins, Wesley Cardet Jr. and walk-ons Luke Fonts and Kieran O’Haire on Senior Night.
“Player acquisition is a wide net you cast globally,” English said last week. “We have two freshmen in Jaylen Harrell and Jamier Jones who are coming in. We have to replace some really good players — Bensley, Wesley, Jabri.”
Harrell picked up a second straight Gatorade Player of the Year honor in Massachusetts this week. He’ll arrive from the prep ranks at CATS Academy. The Friars have reportedly been in contact with junior college wing Antonio Chol and Nevada forward Nick Davidson, who averaged 15.8 points and 6.5 rebounds with the Wolfpack last season.
