While losing its top two scorers will certainly hurt Providence next year, head coach Ed Cooley knows Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil's early defections to the NBA are a great sign for the program in the long term.
Bentil announced he was staying in the 2016 NBA Draft earlier this week, joining teammate Dunn in making the leap to the professional ranks. It's a move Cooley will use to his advantage on the recruiting trail.
"It's a positive thing in the long term," the 46-year-old told Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal. "It's not every time that we have the opportunity to coach two pros. That's a great problem to have and certainly something we can use in recruiting."
Dunn was ranked as one of the top NBA prospects throughout the 2015-16 season, and is expected by many to be one of the first names called on draft night. Bentil used a breakout season and an impressive performance at the scouting combine earlier this month to boost his draft stock into a potential first-round pick.
Should Bentil join Dunn in the first round, it would mark the first time in the Friars' history that two players were selected in the opening round of the draft. Cooley plans on being there to witness potential history in June.
"Two guys mentioned with our brand and with the Friar logo is big time," Cooley said. "We want the very best for those guys. I know those guys won't be the last ones we're putting in the draft."