Former Kentucky men’s basketball player and recent Providence Friar Bryce Hopkins entered the transfer portal on Wednesday as first reported by On3’s Joe Tipton.
Hopkins played his freshman season at Kentucky in 2021-22 before moving to Rhode Island to suit up with the Friars for three seasons. Heading toward the end of his college career, Hopkins is back in the portal looking for a new home.
CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein added to the initial report, stating that Hopkins entered the portal with a “do not contact” tag, meaning that the Oak Park, Illinois, native does not wish to be reached out to by interested schools and likely has an idea of where he will end up.
Hopkins was graded a four-star prospect out of Fenwick High School according to 247Sports and committed to begin his college career with John Calipari in Lexington.
Being part of the 2021-22 Cats that had National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament before infamously losing to St. Peter’s, Hopkins averaged 2.1 points per game in an average of just 6.4 minutes on the court in 28 games.
Following one season in Lexington, Hopkins entered the transfer portal in an effort to find somewhere he was able to contribute more heavily.
“Bryce is an exceptional kid and as we always do, we will support him and his family in their decision,” former UK Head Coach John Calipari said after Hopkins announced his intentions to transfer. “I’m proud of Bryce for not only being a great teammate, but he came to the gym ready to work and be the best he could for us each and every day.”
Settling on Providence with Friars Head Coach Ed Cooley, Hopkins saw his role significantly increase in year two, starting all 33 games for a Providence squad that would earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Averaging 15.8 points per game and 34.9 minutes on the court, Hopkins separated himself as a star for Providence, despite a quiet showing in the Friars’ NCAA Tournament defeat against Hopkins’ former squad, Kentucky.
Seemingly happy with his role in Providence, Hopkins made the decision to stay with the program in spite of Cooley’s decision to leave for Georgetown, choosing to play for new Friars Head Coach Kim English.
Hopkins would return to Providence and build upon his performance the season prior, averaging 15.5 points per game and 8.6 rebounds a night in his 14 games started before tearing his ACL, an injury that both ended his season and derailed Providence’s.
He would not return to the court until 11 months later, this past December, in which he was able to play three games, averaging 17 points and 7.7 rebounds a night before nagging knee issues once again ended his season.
Once again without Hopkins, Providence collapsed, finishing the season 12-20 (2-1 with Hopkins, including a win over BYU) and losing six straight to end the season.
Entering his fifth year of college basketball, Hopkins is expected to be granted a medical redshirt for the 2024-25 season.
There is no current reported front-runner on where Hopkins will land.
