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PROVIDENCE – The sunrise workouts were done by the time the Providence men and women took the court later Friday morning.
Fargnoli Park was the setting for a free youth basketball clinic in cooperation with the city’s Recreation Department. Some 200 children went through offensive and defensive drills with some rather noteworthy councilors, an event sponsored by Amica and Coca-Cola on Friday, July 17.
Name, image and likeness contracts call for some appearances over the course of an academic year. This was one of them for the Friars men – their home games are staged in a building whose naming rights have been owned by the insurance giants for a few seasons. Their interactions seemed easy and comfortable while working with the kids at four different hoops and in the adjacent field.
“I’m loving the guys,” guard Gavin Hightower said. “How we’re coming together, building team camaraderie – it's been so good. Guys just love to compete and get better every day.”
Hightower has been a popular figure on the new men’s roster thanks to his previous relationship with the coaching staff. He followed Bryan Hodgson and his assistants from South Florida to Providence after spending a lone season with the Bulls in 2025-26. Hightower would already have faced leadership demands as a point guard – the transition from one school to another brings about added responsibilities.
“I’m here to just let the guys know what it’s going to be like,” Hightower said. “They’ve done a great job adjusting to how it’ll be in practice, how coach likes things to be run and the culture. Everybody’s doing a great job adjusting.”
Hightower was part of a South Florida group that went 25-9 and reached the NCAA Tournament in Hodgson’s lone year on campus. He arrived after two years at Arkansas State and was tempted back toward his New York roots to replace former Friars coach Kim English. Hodgson wasted no time getting the Bulls up and running – he plans to do the same here.
“The guys have done a really good job listening to what coach is telling them and following instructions,” Hightower said. “It’s been pretty good. But I’m always there to help out – and, as a point guard, I’ve got to be a leader.”
Hightower, Georgetown transfer Malik Mack and Florida Atlantic transfer Devin Vanterpool could be among the most likely options to handle the ball for Providence. Hodgson was noncommittal earlier this summer when asked if he had a sense of the lineup a few months ahead of November. He promised ongoing competition, something Hightower echoed Friday.
“Once you get between those lines you’ve got to whatever’s in front of you,” Hightower said. “Once you get off the court it’s all love. It’s a brotherhood. We’re building it every day.”
Hodgson, associate head coach Tee Butters and assistant coach Alex Harris were all absent Friday. They’re on the road recruiting during the July live periods – this weekend includes the signature Peach Jam on the Nike circuit. Friars women’s coach Erin Batth was also among the excused absences while out covering her own recruiting bases this summer.
The most recent targets for the Providence men include a pair of state natives. Mount Saint Charles point guard Kyle Delves and St. Andrew’s wing Malachi Odugbela have both claimed offers from the Friars in July while working on the summer circuits. Both players are 2028 prospects garnering interest from the Big East and other power conferences.
[email protected]
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence basketball players hold youth clinic in city park
Continue reading...
Fargnoli Park was the setting for a free youth basketball clinic in cooperation with the city’s Recreation Department. Some 200 children went through offensive and defensive drills with some rather noteworthy councilors, an event sponsored by Amica and Coca-Cola on Friday, July 17.
Name, image and likeness contracts call for some appearances over the course of an academic year. This was one of them for the Friars men – their home games are staged in a building whose naming rights have been owned by the insurance giants for a few seasons. Their interactions seemed easy and comfortable while working with the kids at four different hoops and in the adjacent field.
“I’m loving the guys,” guard Gavin Hightower said. “How we’re coming together, building team camaraderie – it's been so good. Guys just love to compete and get better every day.”
Hightower has been a popular figure on the new men’s roster thanks to his previous relationship with the coaching staff. He followed Bryan Hodgson and his assistants from South Florida to Providence after spending a lone season with the Bulls in 2025-26. Hightower would already have faced leadership demands as a point guard – the transition from one school to another brings about added responsibilities.
“I’m here to just let the guys know what it’s going to be like,” Hightower said. “They’ve done a great job adjusting to how it’ll be in practice, how coach likes things to be run and the culture. Everybody’s doing a great job adjusting.”
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Hightower was part of a South Florida group that went 25-9 and reached the NCAA Tournament in Hodgson’s lone year on campus. He arrived after two years at Arkansas State and was tempted back toward his New York roots to replace former Friars coach Kim English. Hodgson wasted no time getting the Bulls up and running – he plans to do the same here.
“The guys have done a really good job listening to what coach is telling them and following instructions,” Hightower said. “It’s been pretty good. But I’m always there to help out – and, as a point guard, I’ve got to be a leader.”
Hightower, Georgetown transfer Malik Mack and Florida Atlantic transfer Devin Vanterpool could be among the most likely options to handle the ball for Providence. Hodgson was noncommittal earlier this summer when asked if he had a sense of the lineup a few months ahead of November. He promised ongoing competition, something Hightower echoed Friday.
“Once you get between those lines you’ve got to whatever’s in front of you,” Hightower said. “Once you get off the court it’s all love. It’s a brotherhood. We’re building it every day.”
Hodgson, associate head coach Tee Butters and assistant coach Alex Harris were all absent Friday. They’re on the road recruiting during the July live periods – this weekend includes the signature Peach Jam on the Nike circuit. Friars women’s coach Erin Batth was also among the excused absences while out covering her own recruiting bases this summer.
The most recent targets for the Providence men include a pair of state natives. Mount Saint Charles point guard Kyle Delves and St. Andrew’s wing Malachi Odugbela have both claimed offers from the Friars in July while working on the summer circuits. Both players are 2028 prospects garnering interest from the Big East and other power conferences.
[email protected]
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence basketball players hold youth clinic in city park
Continue reading...
