Georgia Tech transfer will be impact piece for Kim English (Photo: On3Sports)
By KEVIN McNAMARA
Duncan Powell was always headed from the ACC to the Big East but he’s taken a sudden turn towards Friartown.
Powell, a strong 6-foot-8 forward who shined at Georgia Tech last season, backed off a transfer commitment to Georgetown over the weekend and announced Monday that he’s enrolling at Providence. The news was first reported by Tipton Edits/On3Sports.
The sudden switch adds a versatile, seasoned forward who will play for his fourth school in five seasons when he moves to the Ocean State. Powell, a Dallas native, averaged 12.2 points and 5.4 rebounds and was the runner-up for the ACC’s Sixth Man of the Year award. A transfer from Sacramento State who began his collegiate career at North Carolina A&T, Powell steadily improved in his only season in Atlanta. He shot a team-high 36.5% on 104 three-point attempts in ACC play, and went to the foul line 83 times, second-most on the team. He connected on 44.1% of his field goals, 35.8% of his 3-point attempts and 68.7% of his free throws and started Tech’s last 11 games.
By the end of the season Powell was clearly the best player on a team that finished 17-17 and 10-10 in the ACC. He was named the Lute Olson National Player of the Week on March 3 for his performances in wins over Pittsburgh (23 pts, 10 reb, 6-10 3pt FG) and N.C. State (16 pts, 7 reb, 2-5 3-pt FG). He scored in double figures in 17 of his team’s final 21 games and twice made six 3-point field goals in a game, Feb. 22 at Pittsburgh and March 13 against Duke in the ACC Tournament. He finished with 24 points and six rebounds against Duke and was named to the ACC All-Tournament 2’nd team.
“We are extremely excited to add Duncan to our team,” English said in a school release. “As a fifth-year player, Duncan brings a wealth of experience and leadership to Friartown. As we got to know Duncan it became clear that his ability to shoot the ball, his toughness, and his desire to do whatever it takes to win were essential to add in our quest for a championship. We look forward to getting Duncan and the rest of the team on campus this summer.”
Powell adds some badly needed seasoned frontcourt skill to Kim English’s 2025-26 Friars. The frontcourt currently consists of holdovers Oswin Erhunmwunse and Ryan Mela, incoming freshmen Jamier Jones and Jaylen Harrell and transfers Cole Hargrave and Powell. Powell is easily the most experienced and accomplished of the group and should be penciled in as a certain starter.
With Powell part of the mix English now has 13 players targeted for next season. New NCAA rules allow up to 15 players on scholarship and it appears the lone clear hole in the roster would be at center where Erhunmwunse is the only player standing above 6-foot-8. Powell, at 235 pounds, and Hargrove (250 lbs.) both own the heft and strength to defend and rebound so it will be interesting to see if the Friars feel they are done building their roster.
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