Providence is on the hunt for frontcourt replacements, and Aletan has been added to the list of potential next Friars. The 6’10 225lb Samson Aletan from Dallas, Texas was reported to have been on campus on Monday as Coach Hodgson is looking to add bodies to the 4/5 position.
We break down Aletan’s game below and how he’d fit with the 2026-2027 Providence Friars.
Yale Career Overview
Aletan has been a mainstay to the Yale Bulldog rotation since his freshman year. As a freshman, he averaged a modest 7 minutes of gametime, with a highlight being blocking two shots in the final seconds against Auburn in their upset NCAA victory. His numbers exploded his sophomore year. As a sophomore, he started 29 games, averaging 20.7 minutes, 7.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks. His block total of 48 blocks led the team. He was extremely efficient from the floor, averaging 59.1% from the floor.
As a junior, he started 29 games, increasing his minutes played to 25.9 minutes per game. His numbers improved modestly from his breakout sophomore year, as he averaged 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He again led the team in blocks. He was again efficient from the floor, going 57.8% from the floor.
Player Overview
Aletan is a quick leaper and will have most of his offensive production off dishes for dunks and alley-oops. He’ll get some production off offensive rebound put-backs too. Beyond that, he has shown a little bit of a post game in that he has a baby hook he deploys here and there.
Aletan knows what he is, exemplified by his one three point attempt in 3 years. He’s more of your traditional big and wouldn’t be your 5 that steps out and can shoot the perimeter shot with consistency. His free throw numbers bare that out, as he is a career 60.8% from there. Aletan only had 2 games all year where he totaled more than 10 field goal attempts, so it’s clear that his best traits are around cleaning up the glass and providing a defensive presence.
Aletan is a big man that is a threat to contest shots due to his bounce, quick twitch, and solid leaping ability. In 6 games this year, he totaled 3 blocks or more. In 12 games, he totaled 2 blocks or more. At 6’10, he’d provide size and depth in the frontcourt for Providence while also improving the defensive floor for the Friars.
He moves his feet incredibly well for a 6’10 big. He’s not a stiff that hangs out in the paint. He can go out and guard on the perimeter and not feel uncomfortable, with the athleticism to stick with that man. That’s invaluable for a 5 man to have that skillset.
I will continue to beat this dead horse, but I am enthralled with Hodgson’s prioritization of defensive focused players. I was frankly not expecting this, and I am ecstatic to be blindsided by this development.
Recruitment Overview
In high school, Aletan was his conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. Aletan holds the record in Texas state basketball for most blocks in a state championship game at seven.
Aletan has a unique high school recruiting story. Aletan is the highest ranking recruit in Yale’s basketball history. Aletan bypassed offers from in-state powers Houston, Texas, TCU, and Texas A&M to enroll at Yale. The rationale? Getting a high end education, an importance instilled by his mother and late father
Fit with 2026-2027 Friars
Based off his production, I foresee this recruitment to be in line with what I wrote about Stephen F. Austin C Jerald Colonel. Both of these guys I would presume to be depth pieces, with Aletan more of a defensive 5 and Colonel more of a defensive 4. On tape alone, Aletan seems much larger than Colonel, despite being listed within an inch of each other. Both likely won’t be focal points in the offense if they choose to come to Providence.
I could be off base, but I think Hodgson is still going big game hunting for his starting 5, and a player like Aletan would use his final year to be a first off the bench big to give Providence 15-20 mintues. As we’ve seen over the last 3 years, your frontcourt is only as solid as the man directly behind the starting 5. Hodgson needs to make sure he doesn’t make the same mistakes English did in not having an adequate back-up 5.
Summary
Coach Hodgson talks about excelling at everything. Aletan would embody this. The below article tells a fascinating story about Aletan’s upbringing and what drove him to Yale. He seems like the type of fit that would lift a locker room, hold the team accountable to strive for success, and most important be a good presence in the Providence College community.
https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/article/Meet-Samson-Aletan-Yale-men-s-basketball-s-17488210.php
While I still have high hopes that Hodgson lands an elite two way five man, I’m also painfully aware that the market is dictating top end big men are getting an asinine amount of money. I’m going to trust Hodgson on his roster build, as he has given me no reason to think otherwise.
After doing some in-depth homework on Aletan the player and person, he’d be an excellent in the frontcourt and likely an even more important asset to the locker room and culture build. These things certainly matter.
Sign me up for Samson in Friartown.