The University of Rhode Island women's basketball team welcomes a state native back home, while a Providence player transfers to another coast. Additionally, three players from Bryant are heading to Southeastern Louisiana, impacting the Southland Conference roster.
Key points
A state native returns to the University of Rhode Island women's team
A Providence player transfers to another coast
Three players from Bryant head to Southeastern Louisiana
Jacob Bannarbie commits to the Friars from UNLV
Recruiting pace suggests key pieces for 2026-27 roster are in place
Jacob BannarbieUniversity of Rhode IslandProvidenceBryant
A state native will return home to the University of Rhode Island women, and she’ll have a few more staff members officially settling into their new offices.
A big man from Providence will switch coasts while attempting to further establish himself in the paint.
A three-man contingent from Bryant will depart for Southeastern Louisiana, a strong influence on a revamped roster in the Southland Conference.
That was the local college basketball action last week in the transfer portal. The Friars picked up their first commitment in more than two weeks from UNLV forward Jacob Bannarbie, and the slower recent pace of their recruiting suggests the headlining pieces of their 2026-27 roster are already in place.
There’s still more work to do elsewhere, and how that shakes out will be chronicled here until what figures to be the summer months. The Rams, Providence and the Bulldogs all figure to be more active than Brown, which operates under different academic and eligibility requirements.
The portal is officially closed to new entries on both the men’s and women’s sides barring a coaching change or an approved NCAA waiver. Coaches had previously been forced to re-recruit their own rosters or attempt to build news ones in the midst of the NCAA Tournament. That changed to twin 15-day periods after the national championship games this spring.
Players generally would like to settle their respective futures before offseason workouts begin, but finding a fit – the right relationship, potential role and an agreements on name, image and likeness rights – is a two-way street. This space will be updated weekly with any local developments.
Here’s a look at the action from last week.
Mia Fiore, shown in action with Merrimack women's basketball in 2024, has committed to Rhode Island for the coming season. Fiore hails from Narragansett.
Mia Fiore, shown in action with Merrimack women's basketball in 2024, has committed to Rhode Island for the coming season. Fiore hails from Narragansett.
A homecoming for Mia Fiore
Mia Fiore has committed to the URI women, returning to just a short drive from her Narragansett home after two seasons at Merrimack.
Q&A
Who is the state native returning to the University of Rhode Island women's basketball team?
The specific name of the state native returning to the University of Rhode Island women's basketball team is not mentioned in the excerpt.
Which player from Providence is transferring and where is he going?
A big man from Providence is transferring to a different coast, but the specific destination is not detailed in the excerpt.
What impact will the three players from Bryant have on Southeastern Louisiana's roster?
The three players from Bryant are expected to significantly influence the revamped roster in the Southland Conference.
What recent commitment did the Friars receive in the transfer portal?
The Friars received their first commitment in over two weeks from UNLV forward Jacob Bannarbie.
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Fiore played in just 10 games last year – Dec. 21 against Fairfield was her swansong – but averaged 13.8 points and 5.4 rebounds for the Warriors. She also shot 35.5% from 3-point range and collected 16 steals as a two-way factor on the perimeter. Fiore hit for a season-high 24 points in an 80-73 home loss to Bryant.
Fiore started in 22 of her 26 appearances during her 2024-25 debut, averaging 6.5 points. She prepped at St. George’s and was both a Most Valuable Player and NEPSAC Class B champion with the Dragons. Fiore continued in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, but the 5-foot-10 guard will now take a step up to the Atlantic 10.
Basketball is a family game for Fiore, who was also recruited by Pepperdine and Manhattan as a prospect. Her uncle, Roland, was a transfer forward with the Rams in the 1980s. Her older sister Ella (New Hampshire, Lynn University) and older brother Miles (Salve Regina) both played college basketball.
Fiore is the fifth transfer to announce a commitment to URI under new coach Colleen Mullen. Delanie Hill, Martina Borrellas and Amaya Stewart have all confirmed they will follow Mullen from the Great Danes, and Queen Ikhiuwu arrives in the frontcourt from Wofford. The Rams were able to retain guards Sophia Vital and Amori Jarrett, with Vital a likely focal point after starting on an NCAA Tournament team in 2025-26.
Mullen also continued to fill out her staff last week, with assistant coaches Catherine Cassidy, Carly Fabbri and Taya Robinson all officially welcomed. Fabbri adds the title of recruiting coordinator and Shae O’Brien will serve as director of basketball operations.
Cassidy and O’Brien both join associate head coach Megan Methven in following Mullen from Albany. Fabbri comes in from Quinnipiac after starring on the floor and serving on the staff under her mother, Tricia, who just retired from the Bobcats after 31 years. Robinson was an assistant coach at conference rival VCU.
“Together, this staff is committed to developing our student-athletes, building meaningful connections, and continuing to elevate Rhody women's basketball,” Mullen said in a statement.
Providence Friars forward Peteris Pinnis (17), shown in a game vs. Brown last season, has committed to Oregon State.
Providence Friars forward Peteris Pinnis (17), shown in a game vs. Brown last season, has committed to Oregon State.
Pinnis leaves Providence for Oregon State
Peteris Pinnis has committed to Oregon State, leaving the Providence men after one season.
Pinnis played in 18 games off the bench for the Friars in 2025-26, averaging 0.8 points and 1.2 rebounds. He’s a 7-footer from Latvia who was a late spring addition to the roster ahead of last season.
Pinnis played double-digit minutes three times, including 15 in a Thanksgiving tournament loss to Florida. He recorded 10 apiece in a road loss at Connecticut and a home defeat to St. John’s on Valentine’s Day. Pinnis was largely blocked out by Oswin Erhunmwunse and Cole Hargrove, a pairing who featured most often at the center spot.
Pinnis joins Erhunmwunse (Creighton), Stefan Vaaks (Illinois), Rich Barron (Toledo), Jaylen Harrell (Washington State), Jamier Jones (Missouri) and Nilavan Daniels (William & Mary) among Providence players who have found new programs for 2026-27. Daquan Davis and Jason Edwards – potentially pending an NCAA waiver – remain in the transfer portal. Bannarbie was the 10th commitment for the Friars under new coach Bryan Hodgson.
Bryant's Quincy Allen is off to Southeastern Louisiana, his fifth college basketball program.
Bryant's Quincy Allen is off to Southeastern Louisiana, his fifth college basketball program.
Allen, Sims, Sanford leaving Bryant
Quincy Allen, Ashley Sims II and Gio Sanford will all leave Bryant for Southeastern Louisiana, commitments announced by both the players and the school last week.
It will be the fifth college stop for Allen, who was limited to 16 games last season due to injury. He averaged 9.8 points and 4.3 rebounds after being selected to the America East preseason all-conference team. Allen has played previously at Colorado, James Madison and Chicago State.
Sims made an immediate impact for the Bulldogs as a freshman, averaging 7.2 points and 5.0 rebounds. He started in 29 of 31 appearances, hit for a double-double against Maine and added 22 steals. Sims ranked first on the team in rebounding average and total rebounds while tying for the lead in defensive boards.
Sanford came off the bench in each of his 18 appearances as a freshman, averaging 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds. He hit for seven points in a loss at High Point and collected six points, three rebounds and three assists in a home blowout of Mercy College. Sanford played a season-high 27 minutes in a road defeat at Albany.
Allen, Sims and Sanford join Aaron Davis (Hampton), Khalil Williams (Le Moyne) and Langston Bailey (Benedict College) among Bryant players who will be on different rosters next season. Timofei Rudovskii, Ethane Bourgade, Jaheim Nyam and Daniel Akoue all remain in the transfer portal.