Former Kentucky player Bryce Hopkins suffers season-ending injury

Bryce Hopkins, Providence’s second-leading scorer and a former Kentucky Wildcat, has suffered a season-ending injury.

The school announced on Thursday morning that Hopkins, who is averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game this season for the No. 23 Friars (11-3), has torn the ACL in his left knee after an awkward landing during Wednesday night’s 61-57 loss to Seton Hall.

“We all feel for Bryce and his family in this difficult time,” Providence Head Coach Kim English said in the team’s press release. “We will be with him throughout this process to help him comeback stronger than ever.  We ask that all of Friartown keeps Bryce and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Bryce Hopkins Suffers Season Ending Knee Injuryhttps://t.co/OmBHKZsC08

— Providence MBB (@PCFriarsmbb) January 4, 2024

Hopkins spent his freshman season at Kentucky in 2021-22 where he averaged 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds in 6.5 minutes per outing for the Wildcats. The former four-star recruit showed spurts of production off the bench for head coach John Calipari, but could never fully break his way into the rotation.

The 6-foot-6 wing then transferred to Providence ahead of the 2022-23 season and quickly became a star for the Friars. Hopkins was an All-Big East selection last season and was off to an equally impressive start 14 games into his junior campaign. He went for 11 points and nine rebounds in Providence’s upset win over then-No. 6 Marquette on Dec. 19.

Unfortunately, Hopkins’ season is already over. He finished with five points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes against Seton Hall before going down with the injury. Hopefully, we’ll see him return better than ever in 2024-25.