Providence Lands Oswin Erhunmwunse
A 5-Star Center in the Class of 2025 is Staying in New England
One of the top college basketball recruits in all the land will soon continue his basketball journey in Friartown.
On Thursday afternoon, Oswin Erhunmwunse, a 6’10”, 216-pound forward for Putnam Science Academy (Putnam, Connecticut) and a top-25 player in the high school recruiting class of 2025, announced his commitment to Providence College via a live stream with 247Sports, a premier recruiting outlet.
Erhunmwunse chose Providence over Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, and Big East foe Creighton after narrowing his list to the four on December 28th. The Friars were able to secure his services despite rumblings of a massive NIL offer (rumored to be six figures) from Oklahoma and a late push from Georgia Tech headed by Oswin’s former teammate at PSA, Baye Ndongo, a star forward for the Yellow Jackets who is averaging 12.6 points and 9.2 rebounds a night 15 games into his collegiate career.
Ultimately, there was no place like home. As Erhunmwunse told reporters, “I chose Providence because it fits with the way I play. They play in open space, with a bunch of shooters and it’ll make me a better player. I also chose Providence because I have a good relationship with the coaching staff and players. I stay in Providence, so I want to stay home and make a difference. I want to be a legend in my city. I know I’m not from America, but I’ve stayed in Providence since I came here.”
A decision as to whether or not Erhunmwunse will reclassify- a move that has been widely discussed and would make him eligible to join Providence this fall in advance of the 2024-25 season- will be made later. While some outlets have indicated that the big man will be enrolling in classes at Providence starting this fall, his camp notes this is untrue- and it will likely be a while before anything comes to light.
If he reclassifies, he will join Ryan Mela, a three-star forward from Natick, Massachusetts, in Providence’s 2024 recruiting class. If not, he shall be the first Friar in the 2025 class- although, with the aggressive approach to recruiting that Providence HC Kim English and staff take, he won’t be alone.
The Nigerian-born forward is Providence’s highest-rated men’s basketball recruit in over a decade. In fact, only Ricky Ledo and Kris Dunn- two five-stars from Providence’s 2012 recruiting class- are the only players in program history to have prospect ratings higher than that of Erhunmwunse.
The defensive-minded center has not played since this past June due to a shoulder injury that required surgery, yet he has since been cleared and will take the floor for in-game action soon. He will split his time between PSA and Team New England, an AAU club boasting the largest inner-city basketball program on the East Coast.
For Providence, Erhunmwunse will help the team’s interior defense/rebounding issues. With Josh Oduro and Ticket Gaines set to graduate this offseason and the future for Bryce Hopkins (ACL) shrouded in mystery, the Friars are in desperate need of help in the frontcourt, and the dynamic two-way forward can help the team pack a punch offensively in the low post while also serving as a glass-cleaning shot blocker on the defensive end.
And so, Kim English lands his first big (no pun intended) piece since taking the lead gig at Providence College. Whether Erhunmwunse will be on campus next year is unknown, but the fact that he’ll be suiting up for the Friars at some point is a win of epic proportions. And for Friars fans, the benefits reaped upon his arrival will make any wait well worth it.
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