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This month’s first transfer portal commitment for the Providence men offers another frontcourt option for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
UNLV forward Jacob Bannarbie pledged to the Friars late Friday night after a recent campus visit. He made the announcement on Instagram, the 10th addition since Bryan Hodgson was formally introduced as coach in late March.
Bannarbie selected Providence after also taking a recent visit with North Carolina State. The 6-foot-9 redshirt sophomore improved across the board in 2025-26, starting in 15 of his 30 appearances. He went from 1.6 points to 5.4, 1.8 rebounds to 4.8, and a 1.0 block percentage to 2.4.
Bannarbie’s defensive rebounding rate per KenPom.com climbed from 14.4% to 22.9%, a mark that ranked first on his team. He’s an even 52% shooter over the course of his career, operating almost exclusively from 2-point range. Bannarbie showed hints of his potential over his last two college seasons and previously on the Nike grassroots circuit, averaging 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds on 58.8% shooting with the Oakland Soldiers in 2023.
Bannarbie scored in double figures three times last year, including 15 points in an overtime victory against Nevada. He hit for a double-double against Saint Joseph’s, collecting 12 points and 11 boards in a nonconference win. Bannarbie also enjoyed his best rebounding performance against one of the toughest opponents on the Runnin’ Rebels schedule – 15 boards in a home triumph over Grand Canyon.
Bannarbie is an Alaska native who committed to UNLV out of Hillcrest Prep, a Phoenix power that includes alums like Deandre Ayton, Dalen Terry, former Villanova forward Duke Brennan and former University of Rhode Island wing Brandon Weston. He selected the Runnin’ Rebels ahead of offers from Washington State, UC Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Jose State, Southern Utah, Portland and Sacramento State. Bannarbie used a redshirt in 2023-24 and debuted by coming off the bench in 16 of his 19 appearances the following season.
Bannarbie should work alongside Yale transfer Samson Aletan and Northwestern transfer Arrinten Page in the frontcourt. The Friars secured pledges from those two veterans as part of a two-week period in April that saw nine players commit to the program. Providence was without a new addition since Georgetown guard Malik Mack announced his move to a Big East rival on April 21.
Bannarbie, Aletan, Page, Mack and the returning Ryan Mela join newcomers Miles Byrd (San Diego State), Dink Pate (Westchester Knicks), Gavin Hightower (South Florida), Devin Vanterpool (Florida Atlantic), Ryan Sabol (Buffalo) and Leonardo Marangon (Italy). The Friars still have Daquan Davis and Jason Edwards – possibly pending an NCAA waiver – in the portal and looking likely to leave the program. Stefan Vaaks (Illinois), Rich Barron (Toledo), Jaylen Harrell (Washington State), Oswin Erhunmwunse (Creighton), Jamier Jones (Missouri), Nilavan Daniels (William & Mary) and Peteris Pinnis (Oregon State) have all committed elsewhere for 2026-27.
Providence still has open scholarships remaining for next season and could pursue multiple avenues to fill them. The Friars could continue picking through what is now a considerably thinner portal class than a month ago, opt for the international route as they did with Marangon, or bring in a couple of developmental freshmen with an eye on the future. Players they were connected with early in the process who remain uncommitted include Stephen F. Austin forward Jerald Colonel, Missouri State guard Kobi Williams and St. Thomas guard Isaiah Johnson-Arigu.
[email protected]
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Former UNLV forward Jacob Bannarbie commits to Providence basketball
Continue reading...
UNLV forward Jacob Bannarbie pledged to the Friars late Friday night after a recent campus visit. He made the announcement on Instagram, the 10th addition since Bryan Hodgson was formally introduced as coach in late March.
Bannarbie selected Providence after also taking a recent visit with North Carolina State. The 6-foot-9 redshirt sophomore improved across the board in 2025-26, starting in 15 of his 30 appearances. He went from 1.6 points to 5.4, 1.8 rebounds to 4.8, and a 1.0 block percentage to 2.4.
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Bannarbie’s defensive rebounding rate per KenPom.com climbed from 14.4% to 22.9%, a mark that ranked first on his team. He’s an even 52% shooter over the course of his career, operating almost exclusively from 2-point range. Bannarbie showed hints of his potential over his last two college seasons and previously on the Nike grassroots circuit, averaging 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds on 58.8% shooting with the Oakland Soldiers in 2023.
Bannarbie scored in double figures three times last year, including 15 points in an overtime victory against Nevada. He hit for a double-double against Saint Joseph’s, collecting 12 points and 11 boards in a nonconference win. Bannarbie also enjoyed his best rebounding performance against one of the toughest opponents on the Runnin’ Rebels schedule – 15 boards in a home triumph over Grand Canyon.
Bannarbie is an Alaska native who committed to UNLV out of Hillcrest Prep, a Phoenix power that includes alums like Deandre Ayton, Dalen Terry, former Villanova forward Duke Brennan and former University of Rhode Island wing Brandon Weston. He selected the Runnin’ Rebels ahead of offers from Washington State, UC Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Jose State, Southern Utah, Portland and Sacramento State. Bannarbie used a redshirt in 2023-24 and debuted by coming off the bench in 16 of his 19 appearances the following season.
Bannarbie should work alongside Yale transfer Samson Aletan and Northwestern transfer Arrinten Page in the frontcourt. The Friars secured pledges from those two veterans as part of a two-week period in April that saw nine players commit to the program. Providence was without a new addition since Georgetown guard Malik Mack announced his move to a Big East rival on April 21.
Bannarbie, Aletan, Page, Mack and the returning Ryan Mela join newcomers Miles Byrd (San Diego State), Dink Pate (Westchester Knicks), Gavin Hightower (South Florida), Devin Vanterpool (Florida Atlantic), Ryan Sabol (Buffalo) and Leonardo Marangon (Italy). The Friars still have Daquan Davis and Jason Edwards – possibly pending an NCAA waiver – in the portal and looking likely to leave the program. Stefan Vaaks (Illinois), Rich Barron (Toledo), Jaylen Harrell (Washington State), Oswin Erhunmwunse (Creighton), Jamier Jones (Missouri), Nilavan Daniels (William & Mary) and Peteris Pinnis (Oregon State) have all committed elsewhere for 2026-27.
Providence still has open scholarships remaining for next season and could pursue multiple avenues to fill them. The Friars could continue picking through what is now a considerably thinner portal class than a month ago, opt for the international route as they did with Marangon, or bring in a couple of developmental freshmen with an eye on the future. Players they were connected with early in the process who remain uncommitted include Stephen F. Austin forward Jerald Colonel, Missouri State guard Kobi Williams and St. Thomas guard Isaiah Johnson-Arigu.
[email protected]
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Former UNLV forward Jacob Bannarbie commits to Providence basketball
Continue reading...
