In a week when the high schools were busy with spring sports playoffs, news continued to break from the local colleges.
∎First, there was the announcement that Ryan Gomes would be returning to his alma mater at Providence College. Gomes will join head coach Kim English’s staff as an assistant, the school announced on June 2. His most recent coaching stop was in player development with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent two seasons from 2023-25. Gomes is expected to replace Tim Fuller, who reportedly has been hired away to serve as the general manager at Missouri.
“He is the perfect addition to help our student athletes understand what it takes to have success here at Providence and beyond,” English said in a statement. “Ryan’s basketball chops are obvious. They go without mentioning. But what stood out about Ryan as we went through this process was the profound impact he has made on so many throughout his career.”
Gomes was one of the most productive players in school history during his career from 2001-05. He leads all-time with 2,138 points while shooting over 50% from the field and appearing in 116 games. Gomes also grabbed 1,028 rebounds and is one of just two players in that 2,000-1,000 club alongside LaDontae Henton.
◘Meanwhile, June 1 started the third chapter for PC coach Kim English. New and returning players were on campus for an official team meeting. Optional workouts will give way to eight weeks of summer practices. Nearly three months have passed since Providence limped out of Madison Square Garden to close the 2024-25 men’s basketball season. The Friars suffered a 75-69 loss to Butler and were eliminated from the Big East Tournament. They matched an unwanted program record with 20 losses and faced an uncertain roster situation with the transfer portal set to open.
Bryce Hopkins has since departed for a league rival while eight new players are set to debut for Providence, including five transfers and three freshmen. Something closer to the NIT berth in English’s debut than the 12-20 slog to nowhere in the coach’s second campaign feels like a must to keep a demanding fanbase firmly in his corner.
“We’re really excited about the group we’ve put together,” English said in a Thursday morning media availability on Zoom. “We’re really focused and dialed in on their programming and team building and our game building that’s going to take place.”
◘What’s been a steady trickle of commitments over the last two months was made formal through a Tuesday morning press release. The University of Rhode Island announced its eight-player men’s basketball transfer class, including five graduates. The Rams also brought in a pair of underclassmen from Atlantic 10 rivals while attempting to improve on last year’s 18-13 finish. Four backcourt players, one wing and three frontcourt contributors will join URI for the 2025-26 campaign. Myles Corey (South Alabama), Tyler Cochran (Minnesota) and RJ Johnson (Charleston Southern) are three of the headliners — a veteran of 135 career games, a former MAC Defensive Player of the Year and a 1,000-point scorer who will pass 400 career assists this upcoming season, respectively.
◘The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced changes to its annual summer tournament last year. For the first time since 1990, women’s professional tennis returns to Newport. The Hall of Fame will host a dual tournament with the Hologic WTA Tour joining the ATP Challenger Tour. Newport previously hosted just a men’s 250-level tournament. This summer, Newport welcomes joint ATP Challenger 125 and WTA 125 tournaments. The new tournament format will have equal prize money and still include the doubles draw.
The tournaments are slated for July 6 to 13.
The 2025 Hall of Fame class is a doozy, and the reintroduction of a women’s tournament comes at an apt time. Maria Sharapova headlines the latest class of tennis stars entering the Hall. Joining her in the 2025 class are Bob and Mike Bryan. The brothers won 16 major doubles titles and hold the record for most weeks atop the ATP doubles world rankings (438).
Hendricken’s Cooper Maher fans the final batter to beat Cumberland in Game 1
Bishop Hendricken takes Game 1 of the Division I baseball championship series, 4-3, over Cumberland on June 5. Game 2 is Sunday.
◘This particular scorecard won’t be hung in Cooperstown, but how and why Bishop Hendricken outlasted Cumberland on a sizzling Thursday afternoon at Rhode Island College matters less than the result. The Hawks now sit one win from consecutive baseball state championships thanks to a grinding victory over the Clippers.
Frank Tillinghast drove home the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning and Cooper Maher battled his way through 4⅔ frames to pick up the decision in long relief. Bishop Hendricken edged Cumberland, 4-3, to take the lead in this best-of-three Division I title series.
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