If you are around long enough, players will make a lot of relationships and have many experiences in basketball and Bryce Hopkins certainly has lived a full life during his college experience.
Despite beginning his career at Kentucky, Hopkins has seen himself turn from a hero to a villain in certain Big East circles, similar to Ed Cooley, his old head coach at Providence.
Now at St. John’s, Hopkins will have one more tour around the conference that will see him interact with many familiar faces, including his former head coaches with the Friars.
“It’s recruitment. It’s the portal,” Cooley said on Tuesday at Big East Media Day when asked if he thought he had an advantage when Hopkins entered the transfer portal because of their prior relationship.
“I think he chose where he thought he could go and develop to be the best player he could be. And I thought he chose a coach that’s going to push him to be the best player he can be.”
Missing out on Bryce Hopkins was a major blow for Georgetown, who saw improvement during its second year under Cooley but is facing more pressure entering this season to make the NCAA Tournament.
Providence coach Kim English did not give as glowing of a review about his former star as Cooley did after the rocky ending of the relationship between the two sides that only saw Hopkins play 17-of-67 games in two seasons due to a knee injury.
“It was good,” he said when asked about what it was like coaching the former All-Big East First Team selection. “Players in college basketball have the right to transfer, so he transferred and chose a school.”
Bryce Hopkins did not start in St. John’s exhibition game against Towson but showed why he can be one of the best players in the conference with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.
He was named to the preseason All-Big East First Team on Tuesday morning and Rick Pitino said he would start in the Red Storm’s final exhibition game on Saturday against Michigan.
“I think they’re going to get a really good player,” Cooley explained about what St. John’s should expect from Hopkins. “He’s a very versatile player.”
“I hope he’s awful when he plays against Georgetown. I hope he’s really bad. I hope he has the flu,” he joked.
“We want the best players to remain in the Big East. So, we’re happy he’s in the Big East. If he wasn’t playing for us, or playing for Providence, we’re really happy he stayed in the Big East.”