Providence nabs transfer Horchler for 2020-21
PROVIDENCE – Noah Horchler attended the Friars’ end-of-season banquet two weekends ago. One of the most sought-after transfers on the college basketball market, Horchler seemed to enjoy himself as he mingled with the Providence players and fans who were in attendance at the R.I. Convention Center.
It was a visit that clearly agreed with Horchler, who on Tuesday committed to join PC. Listed at 6-foot-8 and blessed with the ability to finish at the rim and pop from the outside, Horchler has only one year of playing eligibility with the Friars. He’ll sit out next season before hitting the court for the 2020-21 campaign.
“They’re getting a kid with huge upside … an athletic stretch four who can guard the five if necessary,” said Mike Soliven, who coached Horchler at Florida’s Melbourne High School. “He can step outside and shoot it. He’s also a natural shot blocker and a double-double machine.”
Reached Tuesday night, Soliven shared that the high school version of Horchler was 6-foot-6 “but could jump through the roof. We knew at the next level that he would be a stretch four, so we groomed him to shoot the three. Big men love to be point guards and he enjoyed the ability to step away from the basket a lot. He would shoot the three as a trailer for us a lot. We created a lot of mismatches for him to do what he wanted to do on the perimeter.”
Initially, Horchler’s post-Melbourne High career took him to Eastern Florida State College for one season before continuing onward to the University of North Florida. This past season as a junior for UNF, Hochler averaged 16 ppg and 9.3 rebounds on 54 percent shooting from the field. He connected on 30 percent of his 3-point attempts, which was down from the 35-percent clip he connected at during the 2017-18 season.
Horchler didn’t finish the 2018-19 season in uniform for North Florida. He was dismissed in late February for violating team rules. PC fans will remember coach Ed Cooley feeling comfortable enough to take a flyer on Emmitt Holt after Holt was kicked off the Indiana basketball team. Just like with Holt, Cooley no doubt did his homework on Horchler.
“Honestly, he needs to get out of his comfort zone for a bit,” said Soliven. “I know he’s grateful for the opportunity. It’s a great league he’s going into.
“He’s an X-factor if he continues to add more weight and polish. He’s still pretty raw,” Soliven added. “He’s a good kid who comes from a good family.”
Hochler joins UMass graduate transfer Luwane Pipkins and 2019 recruit Greg Gantt as new additions to next year’s Friar squad. If Alpha Diallo returns and Holt is indeed a go, Cooley will have one scholarship to work with heading into next season. One possibility is St. Joseph’s transfer Jared Bynum, who appeared to enjoy his visit to PC’s campus on Monday.