Newest Friar has eyes set on NBA
PROVIDENCE – The latest portal grab for Kim English and the Providence Friars comes with an asterisk next to his name.
“I’m still fully committed to the NBA Draft [process]. That’s what I’m working towards and that’s what I’m focused on,” said Wesley Cardet Jr, a high-scoring wing who made his commitment to PC on Sunday night while appearing on the Field of 68’s Youtube channel.
Translation: the possibility exists that Cardet never suits up for the Friars, who hosted him over the weekend. Cardet put his name in the transfer portal late last week but also made it clear that he plans to test the NBA waters – which still appears to be the case despite committing to Providence.
“By him going on the visit [to Providence], it made him realize even more that this [playing for the Friars] is a viable option to get to the NBA, which is ultimately his goal,” said Kenny Gillion, who coached Cardet in high school at Florida’s West Oaks Academy,. “He walked away from his visit really impressed. Wes is very reserved. In all honesty, I’m shocked he committed on the visit. It surprised everyone, but that tells you how good the visit was. His family left [PC] that it’s not only a place where he can improve as a player. It felt safe. It felt like home. Coach English is very passionate.”
Per Gillion, the expectation is that Cardet will make up his mind by early May - he went through the draft process last year and is using an Ncaaapproved agent to guide him. In some respects, Cardet is unknown because of the two teams he suited up for in college – he committed to Samford out of high school and spent one season with the Bulldogs before transferring to Chicago State.
“For him to stay in the NBA, it has to be a perfect situation. He’s not going to go in if things are uncertain,” Gillion told the Call/times. “He’s big on fit. If the fit
doesn’t work, he’s going to be miserable. It has to work. Otherwise, he’s going to look like a player that he’s not.
“Coach English supports his dream to get to the NBA. If it doesn’t happen, he has a spot at Providence. It’s very rare that you have coaches who care more about the individual than their own individual goals,” added Gillion. “Wes said he was going through the process. Coach English said, ‘I encourage you to, but this a home that’s going to be waiting for you.’ That’s very genuine.”
Down to one season of eligibility remaining, the 6-foot-6 Cardet would appear to check the “scoring wing” box that the Friars have been seeking to fill ever since Devin Carter announced that he would be applying for the 2024 NBA Draft. Playing for a Chicago State program that competed as a Division I independent past season, Cardet averaged 18.7 ppg while shooting 34 percent from three-point territory.
“The downside of playing at a lower-level school like Chicago State is that [NBA personnel] don’t look at the talent as much. You check off all the boxes, but you see ‘Chicago State’ and immediately think that something is wrong. That can hold you back, especially a guard,” said Gillion.
With stats that also include 14 games of 20 or more points and two 30-point games – one coming last December in a road win against Northwestern – it’s clear that English is willing to roll the dice and hope that the feedback that Cardet receives from NBA personnel results in the guard spending the 2024-25 season with the Friars.
“He’s a two-way player, a phrase people use a lot. He takes pride in playing defense. He wants to guard the best player,” said Gillion. “He can find guys and make the right decisions, but his bread and butter is his ability to score. He can score at all three levels – off the bounce, from outside and at the rim. You have this jumbo lead guard who can defend, shoot and create for others.”