Sept. 1, 2009

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -

After the Friars finished tied for seventh in the BIG EAST in 2009 with a 10-8 league mark and advanced to the NIT with 19 wins, Providence College fans will be looking for second-year Head Coach Keno Davis to continue to build the Friars into a program that consistently wins and advances to the post season. This season, the team will feature five returning scholarship players and seven newcomers. All of these players will compete for starting positions and playing time. Coach Davis feels that this constant competition for minutes throughout the season will keep the team sharp and poised for success.

Last year, the Friars proved that they could play with any team in nation by earning an 81-73 win over top-ranked Pittsburgh on February 24, 2009. It was the Friars' spread offense that led the way and Coach Davis believes that there should be more excitement this season.

"We will be an up-tempo team again this season," Coach Davis said. "Our team will run a lot, perhaps, even more than last year's team which finished the year ranked 23rd in the nation in offense. We averaged 78.1 points per game in 2009, but I think we can have even more success this season as we have more depth. With a deeper team this year and in the future we will be better prepared for the always rigorous BIG EAST."

Fifth-year senior Sharaud Curry (Gainesville, Ga.) returns for his final season with the Friars. The 5-foot-10-inch guard will be expected to lead the team and provide experience. Curry is joined by returnees senior guard Brian McKenzie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and junior forward/guard Marshon Brooks (Stone Mountain, Ga.). Also returning to the lineup are sophomore forward Jamine Peterson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and freshman forward/center Bilal Dixon (Jersey City, N.J.). Both players sat out last season but practiced with the team.

With five scholarship players graduating from a successful 2009 team, Coach Davis has added seven scholarship newcomers to this year's roster. With so many new faces there will be a lot of early season interest as Friar fans get acquainted with the new members of the squad.

"We are trying to bring the right type of student-athletes to Providence College," Coach Davis stated. "We are going after the players who will excel academically and athletically. After watching our newcomers play, fans will understand why we are optimistic about the future. They are the type of players who will always give a complete effort."

Junior forward Russ Permenter (Temple, Texas) and junior guard Kyle Wright (Hartford, Conn.) bring collegiate experience after transferring to Providence. Both competed at the junior college level last year and are eligible to play this season for the Friars.

In addition to Permenter and Wright, the Friar coaches were busy recruiting last year as they also brought in five freshmen. Forward Kadeem Batts (Powder Springs, Ga.), guard Vincent Council (Brooklyn, N.Y.), guard Johnnie Lacy (Milwaukee, Wis.), guard Duke Mondy (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and forward James Still (Detroit, Mich.) will look to make an impact this season.

THE BACKCOURT

The Friar backcourt will be loaded with depth in 2009-10. With three veterans and four newcomers, Head Coach Keno Davis will have plenty of options in the backcourt.

Sharaud Curry is one of most experienced guards in the BIG EAST, having started 83 of the 88 games he has played at Providence. Curry missed almost the entire season in 2007-08 with a foot injury before returning last season. He enters his fifth season at Providence after finishing second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.7 points per game last season. In 2008-09, he led the team in three-point shooting at 39 percent (57-146) and assists with 139. Curry also averaged a team-high 31.8 minutes per game last season. As a freshman, he earned BIG EAST All-Rookie Team honors in 2006 and All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention accolades in 2007. In 2007, Curry averaged 15.3 points per game and led the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage at 90.1 percent. For his career at Providence, he is averaging 12.8 points per game.

Brian McKenzie joins Curry as the other senior on the Friar roster. He is an excellent athlete who provides size in the backcourt. The 6-foot-4-inch guard has played in 92 games at Providence. McKenzie has the ability to be one of the best defensive guards in the BIG EAST. He brings toughness to the Friar defense. When he gets hot from the field, McKenzie can score points quickly. As a sophomore, he shot an impressive 40.6 percent (56-138) from three-point territory and averaged 10.9 points per game.

Marshon Brooks is the third returnee to the Friar backcourt. He is a talented player, who also can play on the wing. Last season, Brooks had a productive season, averaging 10.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-5-inch guard worked hard to improve his game over the summer. He attended the prestigious Paul Pierce Skills Academy with some of the top players in the country in June.

Coach Davis is confident that the newcomers will be a vital part of the team.

"Quickness and shooting ability should be the of the strengths of our guards this season," Coach Davis said. "Johnnie Lacy, Vincent Council and Duke Mondy will help make us quicker and Kyle Wright will help improve our shooting."

Wright attended Monroe College last season and averaged 17.9 points, while shooting 42 percent (94-224) from three-point territory. He earned 2009 NJCAA Division 1 All-America Honorable Mention honors. Wright is a strong shooter with size and quickness. The 6-foot-6-inch guard also can play small forward.

Council comes to Providence College after attending the Patterson School (N.C.) in 2008-09. He helped Patterson, which had been the No. 1 ranked prep school boys basketball team for most of the season, finish with a 34-3 mark in 2009. Council averaged 10.2 points and 10.1 assists per game and shot 53 percent from three-point territory. He has good quickness that allows him to get to the rim and lead an up-tempo offense. He was ranked 11th amongst point guards by ESPN.com and Scout.com ranked him 34th.

Lacy averaged 15 points and six assists last season at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass. He has excellent speed which allows him to score from all over the floor. Dave Telep ranked him as the ninth best point guard in the nation, while Scout.com put him at No. 12, and ESPN.com rated him at No. 25.

Rounding out the guards is Mondy. He is an excellent athlete who can shoot the ball and play several different positions. In 2008-09, he attended Central Catholic High School and averaged 22 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals per game. Mondy earned All-State and All-Conference honors after finishing in the top-10 in scoring in the state of Michigan as a senior.

THE FRONTCOURT

The Friar frontcourt should have plenty of talent and toughness this season. The big men should develop throughout 2009-10 and they should feature the speed and athleticism needed to run Providence's spread offense.

The frontcourt will be led by sophomore forward Jamine Peterson. After sitting out the 2008-09 season, Peterson will immediately impact the Friars with his explosive athleticism and versatility, playing both the forward and guard positions. He played an efficient offensive game as a freshman, posting double-figure scoring totals in six games and shooting an impressive 47.0 percent (47-100) from the field in 2007-08. He recorded a career-high 14 points in an overtime win over Boston College on December 1, 2007. He will continue to score around the basket and provide a solid rebounding presence for the Friars this season.

Joining Peterson in the frontcourt is freshman forward/center Bilal Dixon. Dixon did not play last season for Providence but practiced with the team all season and is familiar with Coach Davis' up-tempo offensive style. He is a fierce competitor and will provide a physical presence in the paint for the Friars that is needed to compete in BIG EAST play. Dixon averaged 19 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks in 2008 as a senior at Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington, N.J. After leading his team to an 18-0 conference record, Dixon was named Second Team All-State, All-League, All-County and Conference Player of the Year.

Junior forward Russ Permenter will provide experience in the Friar frontcourt, having played last season at Temple College in Temple, Texas before transferring to Providence. Permenter is a good fit for the Friars' up-tempo offense. He gets up and down the court well, blocks shots and has the ability to hit the mid-range jump shot. In 2008-09, Permenter averaged 17.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game for Temple and garnered North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference First Team honors for his efforts. He ranked first in the conference in blocks and third in rebounding.

Rounding out the frontcourt are freshman forwards James Still and Kadeem Batts. Still comes to Providence College after attending Detroit Community High School in Detroit, Mich., last season. He is a very athletic player who alters shots and runs the floor well. In 2009, Still posted averages of 27 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks per game.

Batts attended John McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Ga. He averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds and three assists per game as a senior, earning Second Team All-State and First Team All-Region accolades. Batts is a strong rebounder and will provide a solid post presence on offense for the Friars this season.

OVERVIEW

Providence fans should be excited to watch a high-tempo style of basketball again this season. The Friars will continue to run the spread offense and will put pressure on opposing teams all year long with their physical, pressure defense. The veterans on the team now have a full year of experience playing for Coach Davis and will help instill the team's system with the squad's seven newcomers.

The Friars will feature a backcourt comprised of skilled veterans and promising new players. Guard Sharaud Curry will provide leadership and will help run the team's offense with his passing ability and excellent three-point shooting. Senior Brian McKenzie will be counted on to serve as the defensive leader of the Friars.

A key to Providence's season will be the play of junior Marshon Brooks. He will look to build on his breakout sophomore season and become a consistent scorer from both the guard and forward positions. Junior Kyle Wright will extend opposing defenses with his three-point range, while freshman guards Johnnie Lacy, Vincent Council and Duke Mondy will add depth in the backcourt and compete for minutes throughout the season.

Sophomore Jamine Peterson and freshman Bilal Dixon will bring a physical presence to the Friar frontcourt and will provide the size and toughness needed to rebound and finish around the basket during BIG EAST play. Junior Russ Permenter will use his quickness to run the floor and knock down mid-range jump shots from the forward position.

The frontcourt also will benefit from the additions of freshman forwards Kadeem Batts and James Still. They will provide depth and will continue to develop throughout the year.

Last season, the Friars won 19 games, finished tied for seventh in the BIG EAST and advanced to the NIT. Although the Friars will feature a team loaded with new faces this season, PC fans are excited about the future of the program. If Coach Davis' belief that the team has the chance to be better in almost all areas of the game in 2009-10 comes to fruition, it will an exciting season in Friartown.