Bryce Hopkins is not the only Providence transfer with UK history

Bryce Hopkins is stealing all of the headlines before Providence’s leading scorer faces his former team in the NCAA Tournament, but he’s not the only Friar who has a history with the Wildcats.

The name you’re most likely familiar with is Noah Locke. The Providence shooting guard is fourth on the team with a career-best 11.1 points per game. He does most of his damage from behind the three-point line, averaging 5.6 attempts per game while shooting at a 38.9% clip.

You may remember Locke from his previous two stops. He spent his first three years at Florida, averaging about 10 points in 25 minutes per game for the Gators. Locke went 1-5 against the Cats during those three years. His best game was a 14-point performance in the 2020 season finale that ended with an EJ Montgomery game-winning tip-in in the final seconds at the O’Dome.

He wrapped up his undergrad career last year at Louisville, scoring 9.6 points per game for the 13-19 Cards. Thanks to a Covid cancellation, Locke did not get a chance to participate in the in-state rivalry.

Devin Carter got a shot at Kentucky as a true freshman last spring. The 6-foot-3 guard had seven points, six assists, four rebounds and a pair of steals for the South Carolina Gamecocks in a Kentucky 10-point win at Colonial Life Arena. Carter played his way into a starting role for the Gamecocks and was named SEC All-Freshman before entering the transfer portal following Frank Martin’s termination.

Carter has thrived at Providence. This year he’s the Friars’ third leading scorer, averaging 13.1 points per game while shooting better than 43% from the field. He does much more than score. An excellent defender, Carter is the Friars’ best shot-blocker with 1.1 per game and he steals just shy of two passes per contest. He also snags 4.9 rebounds and dishes out 2.4 assists per game.

Ed Cooley has worked the transfer portal well. Two other transfers round out the Friars’ top five scorers. Point guard Jared Bynum (10 points, 4.3 assists) started his career at St. Joe’s and 6-foot-8 forward Ed Croswell (13.2 points, 7.6 rebounds) spent two years at La Salle before taking his talents to Providence.