Providence Basketball: Friars add Luwane Pipkins for major scoring boost

Providence Basketball has been undergoing some recent roster changes on the perimeter. Grad transfer Luwane pipkins is coming in – Makai Ashton-Langford will be going out.

After a disappoint 2018-19 season that ended in a first round NIT loss to Arkansas, Providence Basketball finished with an overall record of 18-16 (7-11). Like all programs with underwhelming campaigns, roster changes – both good and bad are expected to come.

That has happened for the Friars in the last few days. First came the news that UMass grad transfer guard Luwane Pipkins has elected to stay local by choosing Providence in his final season of college. The three-year starter is coming off a season of 16.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 5.2 apg, leading the Minutemen in two of those categories. He had an even better sophomore year, averaging 21.2 ppg on 43% three-point shooting on nearly eight attempts.

One of the reasons for the struggles for the Friars this year was due to the ups and downs of freshmen guards David Duke and AJ Reeves. The duo (when healthy) were the starting guards for Providence and combined to produce 16.9 ppg on 40% shooting. These two have a promising four-year future with the program but with Isaiah Jackson graduating and Alpha Diallo potentially going pro, offense is badly needed for next season. That’s why a player with a 20 ppg season on his resume is big for a team who ranked dead last in scoring in among Big East teams.

With Pipkins coming in, the backcourt becomes really crowded, meaning that someone was likely to go. That player is Makai Ashton-Langford, a 6’3 sophomore that averaged a couple of points and assists a game in 17 mpg this season. His defense and passing ability is the reason why he’s afforded playing time but if 20 mpg as a role player is the ceiling for Ashton-Langford with Providence, it makes sense that he seeks a new destination.

https://twitter.com/makaiashton11/status/1110268637032693766

There’s a clear upgrade in scoring with Pipkins coming in for Ashton-Langord but there are risks involved. Pipkins is a ball dominant player that likes to have the ball in his hands. That could not only stunt the development of the young guards who are the future of Providence, chemistry concerns may surface. UMass Basketball did not have a good season despite the numbers Pipkins put up. It’ll take a strong culture to successful assimilate a player used to being the star for the program. But Ed Cooley deserves the benefit of the doubt in being able to make that happen.

The Big East has a ton of great backcourts, including Myles Powell, Shamorie Ponds, and Markus Howard. Providence might not be able to match that individually but collectively they can have enough backcourt firepower to not only contend in the conference but get back to the NCAA Tournament in 2020.