Following an official visit this week, Providence added UNLV big man Jacob Bannarbie from the transfer portal on Friday, Bannarbie announced on Instagram. The 6’9, 235 lb Anchorage, Alaska native will add depth to Providence’s frontcourt for the 2026-27 season along with Yale transfer Samson Aletan and Northwestern transfer Arrinten Page. Bannarbie will be a redshirt junior next season at Providence after three seasons at UNLV. Bannarbie also visited NC State this week before ultimately picking Providence.
Read more: Friars Add Frontcourt Depth: UNLV Big Jacob Bannarbie Commits to Providence
Bannarbie was born in Anchorage and moved to California in middle school. He had a brief stint at Kanye West’s Donda Academy (where he teamed up with future NBA players Rob Dillingham and A.J. Johnson), followed by SoCal Academy after Donda closed and he finished his high school career at Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, AZ. Bannarbie was ranked 201st nationally in the class of 2023 by 247Sports’ Composite National Ranking. He played for the Oakland Soldiers on the Nike EYBL circuit and put up solid stats in the summer of 2023: 8.8 PPG and 6.1 RPG while shooting 58.8% from the field. He chose UNLV over offers from Washington State, Portland, San Francisco and others. Kevin Kruger was the coach at UNLV when Bannarbie committed. Bannarbie was a bench player in 19 games as a redshirt freshman in 2024-25 and increased his role last season under new coach Josh Pastner with 30 games played and 16 starts. His stat line last season was 5.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.3 APG. He shot 51.9% from the field (including 57.7% at the rim), 63.0% from the free throw line.
Advanced metrics paint him as a high-floor, low-maintenance contributor who thrives in a complementary role. He posted an 18.6% usage rate, a solid 110.1 offensive rating and 57.2% true shooting. Defensively, he ranked in the 97th percentile in defensive rebounding percentage (25.2%) and showed competent individual defense. His overall Above Average tier RAPM (1.8665, top 25%) and neutral-ish BPM (0.37) reflect a player who impacts winning without needing the ball in his hands. UNLV was +6.1 in Net Rating with him on the floor. His on/off splits show a player who had positive impact, or leverage, as Hodgson calls it.
He’s a plug-and-play, low-usage finisher who excels in structured half-court sets with solid finishing at the rim, drawing contact and good as a roller in pick and roll. His rebounding and foul-drawing will provide immediate depth behind (and alongside) Aletan and Page, giving the Friars three reliable big bodies to combat Big East physicality and injuries. Defensively, his rebounding instincts and average-to-solid metrics should translate well to Hodgson’s system. He has the ceiling to grow into a larger rotational role as he develops his game and stays healthy (he dealt with a late-season calf issue at UNLV). In short, he’s the high-floor backup/rotation piece Hodgson’s staff targeted to complete the frontcourt.
Here is the Scouting Report from the pcbb1917 Portal Committee Bot in the pcbb1917 Discord:
Scouting Report
Jacob Bannarbie SO • Anchorage, AK Interior Big | UNLV (MWC) | 2025-26 6-9 • 30 Games
PER-GAME STATS
Points: 5.4 Rebounds: 4.8 Assists: 1.3 Steals: 0.6 Blocks: 0.4 Fouls: 2.2 TO Rate: 22.6% Minutes/Game: 16.1
SHOT DISTRIBUTION
FT: 51-81 (63.0%) [27th %ile]
↳ FT Rate: 76.4 [95th %ile]
2PT: 54-102 (52.9%) [55th %ile]
↳ Rim: 47-82 (57.7%) [51st %ile]
↳ Mid: 7-20 (36.8%) [35th %ile]
3PT: 1-4 (25.0%) [17th %ile]
↳ 3PR: 3.8% [5th %ile]
OFFENSIVE ROLE & IMPACT
Bannarbie functions as a low-moderate usage complementary big man with strong efficiency, registering an 18.6% usage rate alongside an 83rd percentile ORAPM of 1.8294 that signals substantial positive offensive impact for his role. His 52nd percentile ORtg of 110.1 combines with a respectable 63rd percentile TS% of 57.2%, highlighting reliable finishing within UNLV’s frontcourt rotation. This profile suits a player who thrives without primary ball-handling duties.
SHOT PROFILE & PLAYMAKING
Bannarbie’s shooting is solid inside at 55th percentile two-point (52.9%) with 51st percentile rim makes (57.69%) but drops to 35th percentile mid-range (36.84%) and poor 17th percentile threes (25.0% on 3.8% 3PR). Free throw shooting lags at 27th percentile (63.0%), though his elite 95th percentile FT rate (76.4) shows frequent trips to the line. Above-average playmaking emerges via 70th percentile AST% (14.1%), offset somewhat by 18th percentile TO% (22.55%).
DEFENSIVE CONTRIBUTION
Bannarbie offers average defensive impact with a 53rd percentile DRAPM of -0.0371, indicating he allows slightly fewer points than most players at his position. His 68th percentile DRtg of 105.2 reinforces competent individual defense for a center. Strong board work shines through elite 97th percentile DRB% (25.2%) and average 46th percentile STL% (1.4), with solid 75th percentile BLK% (2.4).
ADVANCED METRICS
Bannarbie’s metrics reflect Above Average tier RAPM (1.8665, top 25%) from balanced offense and defense. His PORPAG of 1.1 ranks in the 46th percentile for overall productivity as a rotation big. BPM near neutral at 0.37 underscores his value as an efficient role contributor without elite dominance.
CAREER PROGRESSION
Bannarbie stepped up as a sophomore, boosting usage from 15.5% in his freshman year at UNLV to 18.6% while maintaining a frontcourt role. ORtg slipped from 115.5 to 110.1, hinting at efficiency challenges with expanded minutes and responsibility. PORPAG unavailable for freshman season, but increased involvement signals positive developmental trajectory despite recent calf injury limiting play.
PROVIDENCE FIT
Bannarbie’s profile scores 52.0 overall for the Hodgson system, excelling in offensive style fit (70.0) and usage compatibility (55) as a plug-and-play interior option. Defensive scheme alignment sits at 50.0, matching his rebounding strengths. Closest archetype ‘Efficient Interior Big’ positions him as a low-usage finisher in structured schemes.
BOTTOM LINE
Bannarbie projects as a high-floor backup center drawing mid-major transfer interest for his rebounding and foul-drawing prowess. Ceiling reaches high-major rotational big with refined perimeter touch and injury durability.
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