There is excitement in the air in Friartown as the 2026 men’s college basketball season approaches. With a completely new coaching staff and an overhauled roster, Head Coach Bryan Hodgson will look to hit the ground running. The roster that he has assembled has an incredibly high ceiling, as there are multiple high-major transfers with a lot of experience. Here is a brief preview of the most likely contributors this upcoming season:
Potential Starters:
PG: Malik Mack:
After spending the previous two seasons as the starting Point Guard for Ed Cooley and the Georgetown Hoyas, Bryan Hodgson has brought him in as the primary ball handler of the 2026 Providence Friars. During his Junior season with the Hoyas, Malik Mack posted a very good 26% assist percentage, which is key to Hodgson’s offense. Although he shot only 30% from deep this past season, his free-throw percentage was 82%, indicating there is certainly room for improvement on the three-point line.
SG: Devin Vanterpool:
As it stands right now, Devin Vanterpool is lined up to be the starting Shooting Guard for the Providence Friars. Vanterpool is a transfer from Florida Atlantic, where he had a breakout 2025 campaign with the Owls, averaging 16/6/2. At 6’4, he brings good size for the position and is an above-average rebounder for a guard as well. He is also an above-average shooter, as he shot 37% from deep on 135 attempts.
WING: Dink Pate:
After spending the 2025 season playing for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G-League, Dink Pate will be suiting up for the Friars in 2026, pending approval from the NCAA. Dink is a 6’8 hybrid guard/forward who impacts the game in multiple ways. After averaging 16/7/4 in the G League, he reportedly turned down 2 way contract offers from the Knicks to maintain his college eligibility. Look for Dink to be a massive part of Providence’s plan on the offensive side of the ball, while also bringing great positional size and versatility on defense.
WING: Miles Byrd:
Out of all the transfer portal additions that the Friars have made this offseason, Miles Byrd might be the best. After spending the previous 3 seasons with the San Diego State Aztecs, Byrd brings some of the best defense in the country to the Friars. At 6-7, Byrd has the size and athleticism to guard 1-4, and he is a terrific on-ball defender. He is well regarded as one of, if not the best, perimeter defenders in the sport.
Byrd has never been a huge threat from deep, shooting only 31% from beyond the arc. His 79% free-throw percentage is encouraging, though, and playing in a high-octane Hodgson offense with good spacing could help him unlock that part of his game. Byrd averaged 10/5/3 last season with the Aztecs.
CENTER: Arrinten Page:
The Friars will be Page’s 4th school in 4 years, as he previously had stops at USC, Cincinnati, and Northwestern. The extremely athletic 6-11 big man has sky-high potential, but has never gotten it to click all at once. Many view Page as the X-Factor for the Friars this season. Page is a great passer who is also a great shot blocker and a disruptive defender. His ceiling is sky-high, and if he can get it all to click, you are looking at a potential NBA draft pick. With Northwestern in 2026, Page averaged 10/5/2.
The Others:
PG: Gavin Hightower:
The only player following Hodgson from South Florida to Providence, he is a tenacious defender and a great passer. Look for him to get the bulk of the backup ball handler duties.
SG: Ryan Sabol:
One of the best pure snipers in all of college basketball, he shot 39% on 294 attempts for Buffalo last season. Look for him to get up even more this season, as a high 3-point rate is a key to Hodgson’s offense.
WING: Ryan Mela:
The lone returning player from the 2025 Friars, Mela is a versatile forward who impacts the game in every way. At 6-7, the hybrid guard/forward has good positional size and can rebound, pass, and defend at a high level. Mela unlocking a consistent 3-ball is the key to taking his game to the next level.
BIG: Jacob Bannarbie:
Perhaps the most underrated transfer for the Friars this season, Bannarbie is a freak athlete and also an unbelievable passer for his size. The 6’9 forward has incredible on/off analytics last season for UNLV, and will be a key member of securing the glass and being an offensive hub with the second unit.
CENTER: Samson Aletan:
The 6’10 Graduate center from Yale will possess the bulk of the backup big duties for the Friars this season. Aletan is an above-average shot blocker and will be key in holding down the paint while Page is on the bench.
In his first season as the Friars’ coach, Hodgson has built a tournament-level roster, and it would be a massive disappointment if Providence does not make it back to the big dance this year. In the Transfer Portal era, completely flipping a roster from one season to the next has never been easier, and the leash for college coaches to have immediate success has never been shorter.
