Former UK player Bryce Hopkins announces he will be a ‘Friar Forever’
Bryce Hopkins announced Monday that he will transfer to Providence.
“Friar Forever” his posting on Instagram read. He punctuated those words with a heart emoji.
Hopkins became the second UK player to transfer this offseason, and he’s the fifth transfer headed to Providence. Earlier, Dontaie Allen announced he would be transferring from Kentucky to Western Kentucky.
The Friars, led by Naismith Coach of the Year Ed Cooley, previously picked up transfer commitments from Noah Locke (Louisville), Devin Carter (South Carolina), Corey Floyd Jr. (UConn) and Clifton Moore (La Salle).
Hopkins came to Kentucky as a four-star prospect from Oak Park, Ill. He averaged 6.6 minutes, 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds in his freshman season.
A back injury last summer slowed Hopkins’ progress.
“That really set me back a little bit,” he said at one point before adding that he tried to go to practice each day with the mindset of “working my butt off.”
More than once during the season, UK Coach John Calipari spoke of Hopkins having the size (6-foot-6, 220) and skill to contribute around the basket or on the perimeter.
But, Calipari added, Hopkins was in the unenviable position of backing up more seasoned players. That was Keion Brooks and Jacob Toppin at the forward position or Kellan Grady and Davion Mintz as a shooter.
When Kentucky played LSU on Feb. 23, Hopkins served as an example of the program’s be-ready-for-your-opportunity guiding principle.
Hopkins came off the bench and scored a career-high 13 points (his only points after Jan. 25). He grabbed four rebounds (he had only three other rebounds after Jan. 25) and played 16 minutes (only 13 other minutes after Jan. 25).
Hopkins credited Mintz for helping him believe his opportunity would come.
“Davion Mintz told me it can’t rain forever,” Hopkins said after Kentucky defeated LSU 71-66. “The sun has to shine some day.”
Hopkins did not play in Kentucky’s final two games, three of the final five and six of the final 14.
Hopkins tweeted his intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal on April 7. He wrote of the 2021-22 season as “a dream come true” that produced “so many memories that I will keep with me forever.”
After much thought, he and his parents decided it would be best to enter the transfer portal. As of Monday morning, more than 1,400 college players had entered the transfer portal.
Calipari later tweeted the customary words of support when a player announces a decision to transfer or enter the NBA Draft or return to play another college season.
“I’m proud of Bryce for not only being a great teammate, but he came to the gym ready to work and be the best he could for us each and every day,” Calipari said on a Twitter posting.
This story was originally published April 25, 2022 at 12:17 PM.
