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NCAA Basketball: Ranking 4-star PG Bobby Pettiford Jr’s final 4 teams

By Ian Mumm

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 07: David Johnson #13 of the Louisville Cardinals dribbles in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on March 7, 2020 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 07: David Johnson #13 of the Louisville Cardinals dribbles in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on March 7, 2020 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 29: Kalif Young #13 and Emmitt Holt #15 of the Providence Friars (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 29: Kalif Young #13 and Emmitt Holt #15 of the Providence Friars (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

2. Providence Friars – Candidate for Bobbi Pettiford Jr.

The Friars finished 4th in the conference standings last season making it 6 of the last 7 years Ed Cooley has steered this program to a top-4 finish. Cooley is a strong developmental coach and has heavily relied on elevated guard play to find success. Ideal guards have been of the taller variety, normally 6’5”+, which does not correlate with physical traits of Pettiford. However, the program is in a period of turnover and Cooley is trying to ensure his Friars are well-positioned to succeed in future seasons by securing reliable talent and production.

Alpha Diallo, Maliek White and Luwane Pipkins, Cooley’s 3 best guards, graduated from the team this offseason. In their place, Syracuse transfer Brycen Goodine, Saint Joseph’s transfer Jared Bynum and freshman guards Alyn Breed and Jyare Davis are joining the squad. Bynum and returning leading scorer David Duke will command a lot of the offense for the 2020 season and pending another jump from each could see them head off for the NBA.

Their departures would open the door for Pettiford to immediately join the rotation of Breed, Davis and Goodine. Cooley utilized a 5-guard rotation last season with each player getting at least 20 minutes on the court making it conceivable for Pettiford to easily pick up minutes. Cooley has not extensively sought out guards for the 2021 class, so the addition of Pettiford would make him the best playmaker on the team once he joined. Combined with the Friars’ natural defensive toughness under Cooley, there’s a lot to like about the fit with Providence for Pettiford’s college career.

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