Providence basketball lands another top-50 recruit. Who is he?
Make it three consensus top-50 national prospects for Kim English during his brief tenure as head men’s basketball coach at Providence College.
Jamier Jones committed to the Friars on Sunday afternoon, the latest in what is threatening to develop into an extended line of talented newcomers who will call Amica Mutual Pavilion home.
Jones made his announcement live on Instagram surrounded by family and friends. He selected Providence ahead of fellow finalists Ohio State, Houston, LSU, South Carolina and Kansas. Jones had already cut a host of noteworthy programs from his list — Michigan, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Illinois, Texas A&M, Missouri, Texas, Ole Miss and Indiana — in late April.
“It was hard,” Jones said. “It was a hard path. But having my circle around me, just going through it with my circle, it kind of went easier down the line.”
Jones is a 6-foot-6-inch wing who ranks inside the top 35 players in the Class of 2025. He preps with national power Oak Ridge in the Orlando area and runs on the Nike grassroots circuit with the Florida Rebels. Jones joins Garwey Dual (2023) and Oswin Erhunmwunse (2025) among the high-profile pledges picked up by English since he was hired away from George Mason in March 2023.
“Coach English, he’s been keeping in touch with me almost every day,” Jones said. “All the other coaches, it's just the loyalty they’ve had since they’ve been recruiting me.”
Jones took an official visit with the Friars in November and was behind the home bench for a nonconference victory against Milwaukee. He returned for a brief trip this weekend to finalize his decision. Jones also took visits with the Tigers and Gamecocks.
“Definitely loyalty from a program — that will take everything a long way,” Jones said. “A program that fits my play style, for sure. Then just me having a bond with the coaches — that's really it.”
Jones left IMG Academy after his sophomore season and joined the Pioneers, a top-10 national program. He averaged 19.2 points and 8.5 rebounds for a team that closed 27-4 and finished state runner-up at Florida’s top level. Jones made an immediate impression with 30 points and 12 rebounds in his debut, and each of his outings was preceded by a FaceTime call from English.
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“He was already coaching me before I committed,” Jones said. “Just having that, there’s nothing else I could ask for.”
Jones was a headlining performer last weekend with Florida in EYBL action, averaging 21.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in three games. He’s faced top competition on the Nike circuit, which culminates with the annual summer Peach Jam. Jones projects as an immediate contender for minutes likely to be earned by three players — Bryce Hopkins, Wesley Cardet Jr. and Jabri Abdur-Rahim — who will exhaust their eligibility at the close of the 2024-25 season.
“Trust yourself,” Jones said. “Your decision matters before anybody else.”
Providence has one scholarship remaining for next year, and Erhunmwunse could take it if he opts to reclassify and join the 2024 group. Staying with Jones in 2025 would give the Friars an early lead on one of the top classes in the Big East and, potentially, beyond. Providence is also a finalist for Massachusetts shooting guard Jaylen Harrell, who is scheduled to select between the Friars, Rutgers, Wake Forest, Alabama, Virginia Tech and Xavier on May 27.
Providence pivoted to the 2025 group after two early commitments and some near misses in 2024. Ryan Mela will honor his pledge and enroll in the fall. Daquan Davis reopened his recruitment and ultimately landed at Florida State, leaving the Friars to visit the transfer portal for some immediate backcourt help in Miami transfer Bensley Joseph.
Jones and Harrell are a pair of targets among that 2025 group who have received significant attention from Providence. Frontcourt players Tee Bartlett, Bryson Tiller and Efeosa Oliogu and backcourt prospects Nigel James, Mikel Brown Jr. and Lino Mark were all spotted at games during a 21-14 season and a selection to the NIT.
The Friars made almost immediate national waves on the recruiting trail after Ed Cooley’s hiring with pledges from Kris Dunn and city native Ricky Ledo. Brandon Austin followed but never played a game at Providence after allegations of sexual assault and a school suspension. It was a period of years into the late 2010s before the Friars approached that level of prospect again with Makai Ashton-Langford, David Duke and AJ Reeves.
On X: @BillKoch
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Top-50 national recruit Jamier Jones commits to Providence basektball
