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2026 BIG EAST Summer Check-In Series - Providence

Weekly throughout the summer, the BIG EAST will check-in with each of its 11 men's basketball programs.  Highlighted by a one-on-one interview with each head coach and NBC Sports' John Fanta, the BIG EAST Summer Check-In Series will cover a wide range of topics from roster changes, highlights from summer workouts, and scheduling updates.

This week, the Summer Check-In series connects with Providence's Bryan Hodgson.  The first-year head coach has spent his first few months on the job building a talented roster aimed on contending for a BIG EAST title in 2026-27.  He recaps who brings the most energy, the focus on the defensive end of the floor, and his go-to restaurants in Friartown.

“You're talking about a place that's been to Final Fours, playing in the best basketball league in the country, with the best fanbase in the country.  We're getting 13, 13-and a half thousand people at every single home game.  If it's not possible here, then I don't where it is.  I took this job because we have everything that it takes to make it possible for us to compete for the ultimate prize in college basketball.  And that's the bottom line; I wouldn't have come here if I didn't think that was the case.  I talked to a lot of people this past offseason and everything led me back to Providence - the fan support, from what I understand, it doesn't matter who you're playing here in November in the AMP, it's gonna be a full house.  I haven't had the opportunity to experience that, to be honest with you.  And that's no slight to any place I've been - football season is rolling and basketball season gets going, in their mind, in December.  Man this place is fired up for our exhibitions and our scrimmages.  We're really excited about that.  I think the possibilities are endless here at Providence and we've got the support and the leadership that it takes.”

Head Coach Bryan Hodgson on the basketball culture at Providence College

Providence's 2026-27 Scheduling

Notable 2026-27 Non-Conference Matchups:

  • Nov. 7 vs. Nebraska (Uncasville, Conn.)
  • Nov. 14 vs. Colorado
  • Nov. 23 vs. VCU (Maui)
  • Nov. 24 vs. Arizona/Colorado State (Maui)
  • Nov. 25 vs. Washington/Ole Miss/BYU/Clemson (Maui)
  • Dec. 19 vs. Syracuse (Boston)

"We're going to schedule as hard as we can every year to prepare us for what we're running into in the BIG EAST.  Coming up under Nate Oats - not just one of my greatest friends but my mentor - he taught me so much and put me in this position.  And if you look at the way Nate Oats schedules - I'm thinking back to my four years, 'man we play Houston every year?  Who signs up for that in the non-conference?'  But I would notice how much better we got by the time we got to SEC play.  And I did it at Arkansas State, part of my contract said I had to get bought two times, I got bought five times in year one.  South Florida last year, we went on the road and played at Alabama and Oklahoma State, we didn't have to do that.  We lost those two games and ended up having the best season in program history. We want to do the same thing here and also I think it's really important to get meaningful games in the AMP in the non-conference.  Easier said than done because I think the word is out how difficult it is to play here but we are going to get some meaningful games here in the AMP moving forward."

Hodgson on his non-conference scheduling philosophies and how important it is for preparation for BIG EAST play

Providence's 2026-27 Roster

"Really finding out what pieces we have, who our guys are.  Individually, how do they like to be coached, how I can best benefit them as their coach.  We're starting to see who has leadership qualities, what work ethics look like, and what needs to be changed for daily routines.  It's really tearing them down to build them back up, and I mean that in a genuine way.  When you have 13 new guys, bringing everyone in on the same page to have one common goal - the eight weeks in the summer allows us to do that."

Hodgson on what his goals are with his Providence squad through summer practice

Transfers 

#2 Ryan Sabol - Sr. - G - 6-3 - 195 - Washington, D.C

  • Three-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya) from Buffalo; Third Team All-MAC selection while also being named to CSC Academic All-District team
  • Averaged nearly 20.0 points per game in MAC play, connecting on a league-leading 73 3-pointers in conference games (122 overall)

#7 Arrinten Page - Sr. - F - 6-11 - 245 - Atlanta, Ga.

  • Four-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya) from Northwestern; averaged 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 29 games played last season
  • Began his college career at USC (2023-24) before playing at Cincinnati (2024-25); No. 40 overall prospect by ESPN in the class of 2023

"Arrinten is as talented as any player I've ever coached - I've had 14 guys after this last draft who have played or will play in the NBA.  Arrinten is as gifted and talented as anyone in that group.  He's 6-11, 245, can shoot it, can put it on the floor, moves his body well, can guard - we can switch him and he can sit down and guard a guard.  This summer, we're really pushing Arrinten to be the best version of himself, on and off the floor, and he's been extremely receptive.  He knows that his best basketball is ahead of him, he knows he had to mature in some areas to make sure that happens, and we're going to push him to get that out of him.  So far, he's answered the bell."

Hodgson with high praise for transfer post player Arrinten Page 

#9 Gavin Hightower - So. - G - 6-1 - 165 - Los Angeles, Calif.

  • Four-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya.com) from USF; two-time AAC Freshman of the Week honoree in 2025-26
  • Played for Bryan Hodgson at USF as a freshman, averaging 4.1 points and nearly 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 10 minutes per game; 12 points, four boards, three assists, and three steals vs. Louisville in NCAA Tournament

"Unbelievable energy...he's got a battery in his back that's solar-powered.  He never runs out.  It's absolutely unbelievable.  The guy doesn't get tired, you can tell because he never shuts up.  He's got this infectious, contagious personality.  He loves ball, he loves winning and hates losing, and he's brought that attitude to practice everyday.  That forces Malik to come out of his shell a little bit, and the other guys on the team.  It's been really, really good to have some carryover with a lead guard like that."

Hodgson on the constant energy that Gavin Hightower provides at practice

#10 Jacob Bannarbie - Jr. - F - 6-9 - 235 - Anchorage, Alaska

  • Three-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya.com) from UNLV; averaged nearly 6.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 30 games in 2025-26 
  • Grabbed 10 or more rebounds on four occasions for the Rebels a season ago

#20 Samson Aletan - Gr. - C - 6-10 - 223 - Dallas, Texas

  • Three-star ranked grad transfer (EvanMiya.com) from Yale; averaged nearly 8.0 points and 6.0 boards per outing in 2025-26
  • Started all 58 of his 80 games for the Bulldogs; career 58.8% FG percentage (190-323)

#21 Miles Byrd - Gr. - G - 6-6 - 200 - Stockton, Calif.

  • Five-star rated transfer from San Diego State ranked No. 21 overall on EvanMiya; 2025-26 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year 
  • Averaged 10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game; registered 17 double-digit scoring games en route to earning Third Team All-MWC accolades

"Miles, analytically defensively, was - depending on what you looked at - the number one or two best defender in the transfer portal, and a top 10 transfer unanimous altogether.  An NBA prospect and one of the better players in a great Mountain West basketball league.  Miles was No. 2 as a defender in the analytic service we use - No. 1 was Allan Graves, who was drafted.  So Miles has brought an elite defensive presence and that has been contagious in practice.  I'm trying to figure out if our offense stinks right now or if our defense is really, really good.  I hope our defense is really, really good.  What he does defensively has been contagious because you've got to play with that same energy on the defensive end or you'll stick out like a sore thumb.  Where we're pleasantly surprised is he is absolutely shooting the heck out of the basketball right now and making great plays at the rim for us.  Hoping that he will be one of the better two-way guys in the BIG EAST."

Hodgson on Miles Byrd's elite defensive rating and his improvements on the offensive side of the floor

#22 Devin Vanterpool - Jr. - G - 6-4 - 195 - Laurel, Md.

  • Four-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya.com) from FAU; averaged 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.5 steals in 24 starts
  • Posted 18 games in double-digits, including eight 20-point performances; made 52 3-pointers

#24 Malik Mack - Sr. - G - 6-2 - 175 - Oxon Hill, Md.

  • Four-star ranked transfer (EvanMiya.com) from Georgetown; led the Hoyas in scoring in 2025-26 (13.6 ppg)
  • Posted a 2.07:1 assist/turnover mark a season ago (1.90:1 career ATR); Began college career at Harvard

"I think a big part of it is we cleaned up his shot geography...we took a look at him, he shot 40% on catch-and-shoot threes.  Let's take more catch-and-shoot threes, less off the bounce threes - while also getting better at taking threes off the bounce.  Making him an elite two-way guy, he's got the tools to do that and he's one of two guys on this team that knows the BIG EAST and the physicality involved.  Let's take that step - why not be one of the best defensive guards in the league next year?  So we've made a major emphasis on that this summer.  The old adage 'iron sharpens iron' - with him and Gavin Hightower having some real battles every day in practice and it's been very, very healthy for both of them.  They push each other; yesterday Gavin won the day, today Malik won the day.  When you've got two guys like that battling on a daily basis, they're bound to get better and we've seen that happen over the first few weeks."

Hodgson on Malik Mack's 3-point shooting and the daily battles between him and Gavin Hightower

Freshmen

#1 Dink Pate - Fr. - G - 6-8 - 210 - Dallas, Texas 

  • Spent three seasons in the NBA G-League, averaging 16.0 points, 6.6 boards, and 3.7 per game for the Westchester Knicks a season ago; spent time with G-League Ignite (2023-24) and the Mexico City Capitanes (2024-25)
  • Five-star rated recruit ranked No. 30 in the class of 2023 by ESPN

"I recruited Dink out of high school when I was at the University of Alabama, recruited him hard.  He officially visited us, I went to his home a few times in Dallas, and Dink is a special young man.  He's in love with the game, the G-League had just got to a point where they had the Ignite program and they were taking guys right from high school.  He was the first one to do that.  He's been around the block - he's lived in Mexico City, he's been in Westchester with the Knicks.  From a 30,000 foot view, we took Dink with the knowledge that there were guys playing college basketball last year who made over a million dollars in Europe the year before.  And there are guys coming into college basketball this year that made over a million dollars in Europe last year...Dink, to his credit, he turned down 2-ways and 10-days from the New York Knicks to maintain his college eligibility...had he not, Dink could be putting a World Championship ring on his finger.  That's the reality he gave up in order to be able to play in college.  We knew how talented he was, we knew how great of a young man he was, now we get to see his work ethic and all those things combined get to make a special opportunity for him and us."

Hodgson on Dink Pate's recruitment and his basketball journey that has brought him to Providence

#4 Clyde Walters - Fr. - F - 6-7 - 190 - Pinson, Ala.

  • Consensus four-star, top 100 recruit by Rivals (84), ESPN (96), and 247Sports (99)
  • Attended Brewster Academy before joining Overtime Elite; averaged nearly 7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game in 18 games; played with Alabama Fusion on the Nike EYBL circuit

#13 Leonardo Marangon - Fr. - F - 6-7 - 190 - Vigodarzere, Italy

  • Joins the Friars after playing with UEB Gesteco Cividale in the Italian Serie A2; averaged nearly 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 36 games played last year
  • Made 46 3-pointers at a 39.3% clip during the 2025-26 season; began his club career with Next Generation Team Varese in 2021-22

Returnees

#11 Ryan Mela - Jr. - G - 6-7 - 205 - Natick, Mass.

  • Averaged nearly 10.0 points per game to go along with 5.3 boards and 2.0 assists in 33 games last year
  • Logged double-digits in the scoring column on 17 occasions; was a BIG EAST All-Freshman team selection in 2024-25

"He's special.  Ryan is Friar Basketball.  He embodies everything we want to be, he's got that blue collar grit to him.  You're talking about a guy who was 10 points a game in the BIG EAST last year.  To get that back, not many teams are bringing double-digit guys back.  That's huge for us.  Ryan has spent a lot of time on his jump shot this summer...and he's been an unbelievable X-factor for us.  And that's kind of how we view him, we think we can turn him into a great two-way player.  If he's making 1.5 3-pointers per game, combined with what he already does well - attacking the rim, being an elite defender, rebounding the ball well - we've got a real player.  I think Ryan's done a great job of setting the tone from a culture standpoint and letting the new guys understand what it means to be a Friar."

Hodgson on the impact that Ryan Mela has made on the 2026-27 Friar lineup

#6 John Jackson - So. - G - 6-0 - 180 - Ridgewood, N.J.

  • Did not appear in any games during the 2025-26 season

Departures

  • Jason Edwards - eligibility expired; Jaylin Sellers - NBA; Daquan Davis - transfer; Jaylen Harrell - transfer; Jamier Jones - transfer; Stefan Vaaks - transfer; Rich Barron - transfer; Cole Hargrove - eligibility expired; Corey Floyd Jr. - eligibility expired; Peteris Pinnis - transfer; Nilavan Daniels - transfer; Duncan Powell - eligibility expired; Oswin Erhunmwunse - transfer
By The Numbers
89 - Over the last two seasons, Samson Aletan has logged 89 total blocked shots in 59 games, good for an average of 1.5 per game

16.8 - Ryan Mela closed the 2025-26 campaign strong, averaging nearly 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while shooting 58.2% (32-55) from the floor over the final five games of the season

4.2 - Since the 2024-25 season, Malik Mack is the BIG EAST's leader in assists per game, averaging 4.2 dimes per contest over the two-season span (min. 40 games played)