5-Star Lewis Uvwo Announces CBB Commitment Decision Between Providence, Baylor, More

The top center prospect in the nation is heading to Providence College.

Five-star center Lewis Uvwo is committing to Providence, he announced on a Wednesday CBS Sports and 247Sports livestream.

Uvwo chose the Friars over Baylor, Cal, Kentucky and Alabama, according to 247Sports.

247Sports ranked Uvwo as the top center and No. 7 overall prospect in the 2027 class. He is Providence's highest-ranked recruit since at least 2007, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

Providence coach Bryan Hodgson seemingly celebrated with a post on social media:

Uvwo marks the third five-star prospect to commit to Providence in the modern recruiting era, per 247Sports.

247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein described Uvwo as "the best defensive prospect in the country."

"Uvwo's ability to block shots is virtually unmatched in high school basketball," Finkelstein wrote. "He averaged 4.5 blocks per game in EYBL play... he's going to be able to guard pick-and-roll in different ways at the next level and probably even be switchable."

Finkelstein added Uvwo's "day one role will be as a rim-runner, lob threat, and offensive rebounder (2.8 per game)."

Uvwo, listed at 6-foot-11 and 225 pounds, is currently playing for Prolific Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He will turn 19 in March.

Providence hasn't qualified for the NCAA Tournament since 2023. The Friars went 27-38 over their last two seasons under Kim English before he was fired last March.

The Friars announced former South Florida coach Hodgson's hiring later that month in a move athletic director Steve Napolillo said he hoped would bring "a winning culture" to Providence.

Hodgson will now hope the acquisition of Uvwo could draw other top 2027 prospects as Providence looks to retool into a March Madness contender.

The Friars will prepare in the short term to tip off their first season of the Hodgson era next Monday with a 7 p.m. ET home game against Maine.