Marvin Barnes

A Providence, Rhode Island native and clearly the greatest center and most talented frontcourt player in PC history, Barnes was the center of the Friar offense and team MVP in 1973 and 1974. The 1974 NCAA national rebounding champion, he was a consensus First Team All-America, Eastern Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player in both the Aloha Classic and East-West All-Star games. Barnes was the second pick in the 1974 draft who later became the Rookie of the Year in the ABA where he played for two seasons. He moved on to the NBA for four seasons. Barnes was named to the ECAC All-Decade team for the 1970’s. He still holds Providence game, season and career records for rebounds and blocks. In March 2008, PC retired his jersey, honoring him along with Ernie DiGregorio and Jimmy Walker.

Unlike many of the other Friars who played professional basketball, Marvin Barnes first made his name in the American Basketball Association. Drafted second overall in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Barnes opted to play for the Spirit of St. Louis franchise in the ABA instead. The Providence native was named 1975 ABA Rookie of the Year and averaged 24.1 points and 13.4 rebounds in two seasons in the league. When the ABA folded in 1976, Barnes signed with the Detroit Pistons and went on to play for the Buffalo Braves, Boston Celtics and San Diego Clippers during his five NBA seasons. Barnes retired in 1980 and still resides in Providence.