Davis

PROVIDENCE — Keno Davis’ first recruiting class at Providence College has no choice but to be an important one.

The Friars need to replace five seniors in the class of 2009, and the new players need to come in all shapes and sizes. Davis took his first step last week when Antoine Allen, a scoring guard from Baltimore, verbally committed. Allen can sign a letter-of-intent in November.

“He’s a statement player in that class,” said Ryan Hurd, Allen’s coach this season at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass. “He’s excited about Keno and the up-tempo style they say they want to play. I don’t see how he won’t be able to have a big impact at Providence.”

Allen, a 6-foot-2 guard, led Lake Clifton High to the Baltimore city title as a senior. He averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, largely playing off the ball, where he could use his strength and scoring skills. Over the summer with the Cecil Kirk AAU program, Allen handled the ball a bit more and college scouts liked his ability to get into the lane and either score, often above the rim, or pass off to teammates. Allen was also recruited by Rutgers, Miami, Auburn and Central Florida.

Allen could have qualified academically to play college basketball this year but decided to enroll at Notre Dame, a prep power that has produced top NBA draft pick Michael Beasley, PC’s Jamine Peterson and URI’s Lamonte Ulmer in recent years.

“He attacks the rim,” said Hurd. “What I like best about him is he plays at a pace that other kids often struggle with. We’re still waiting on a few kids, but we always have a strong team and, with Antoine, we have the building blocks in place to have a big year.”

PC’s senior class this season includes Weyinmi Efejuku, Randall Hanke, Jon Kale, Geoff McDermott and Jeff Xavier.

Friars’ schedule

The Friars are a week or so away from releasing their full schedule. PC’s nonconference highlights will include hosting Rhode Island, Brown and Bryant, traveling to Boston College and playing in the Anaheim Classic during Thanksgiving. The Friars’ draw in California is a tough one. They’ll begin with a game against Baylor, which returns four starters from an NCAA tourney team. PC and Baylor are matched in a bracket with Arizona State and Charlotte. The Sun Devils are the likely tourney favorites and an upper-echelon preseason pick in the PAC-10.

Double dribbles

Former PC coach Tim Welsh is pursuing television work this season at both ESPN and SNY.TV in New York. Three of Welsh’s assistant coaches have landed new jobs. Steve DeMeo is at Central Florida, Allen Griffin is on the staff at St. Francis (N.Y.) and Kevin Kurbek is working at Bryant University … Villanova is off to a fast start on the recruiting circuit. The Wildcats have three top-50 verbal commitments — big men Mouphtaou Yarou and Isaiah Armwood and point guard Maalik Wayns … New Bryant coach Tim O’Shea is pleased with the summer addition of 6-9 center Papa Lo, a transfer from UMass who will be eligible for the 2009-10 season. Bryant’s schedule this season includes games at PC, UConn, Maryland, Boston College and Iowa State.

kmcnamar@projo.com