It all started out with an innocuous hype video for the Providence Friars as they approach the first season of the Bryan Hodgson era. Italian Leonardo Marangon was shooting the ball from deep, and the video naturally transitions to one of the Friars performing a highlight reel play.
That is, until, the PCBC put on their detective hats, took a screen grab of the interactive board behind Marangon that tracks shooting statistics, and noticed a name on the board that was foreign to Friar fans. Derek Simpson. A few Providence internet sleuths and a confirmation from Kevin McNamara led to the introduction of the next addition to the 2026-2027 Providence Friar roster, and that is 6’3 St. Joseph lead guard transfer Derek Simpson.
We’ve come to learn that Simpson, much like Joseph Pinion and Dink Pate, is awaiting a ruling on eligibility for this upcoming season. Simpson’s request is more cut and dry like Pinion’s in that they are trying to claim their 5th year in this new 5 for 5 law that is passed, given both Pinion and Simpson played 4 seasons in 4 years. Pate is a whole other can of worms that we’ve dissected far too much on past podcasts and blog posts.
While this whole offseason has been a total circus with the NCAA rulings, said rulings being challenged by rogue judges, etc., I commend Hodgson for working all angles to improve his roster. Simpson would objectively do that.
We break down his game below and what you can expect from Simpson if he is to be named eligible for this upcoming year in all of 33 days before the season begins. What a mess that NCAA has made of college sports.
Recruiting Overview
I always like to start with where a player’s story originated in high school. Simpson was the 243rd ranked player nationally in his class coming from The Garden State where he played for Lenape High School. He was a 3 star and 8th ranked player from New Jersey in his respective class, behind familiar names like Otega Oweh and Mark Armstrong, amongst others.
Simpson chose Rutgers over a slew of other offers.
Collegiate Career to Date
His freshman year saw an immediate impact. He played in 34 games and started 6, averaging 7 points on 20 minutes of play. His sophomore year saw an increase in role and responsibility, starting 25 of 32 games, increasing his playing time to 26 minutes, and increasing his scoring from 7.1 points to 8.3 points.
Naturally, you would think with the early playing time at a competitive Big 10 school he would become the focal point of Rutgers as a junior and senior, right? Wrong. If you recall, his junior year coincided with Rutgers Coach Steve Pikell bringing in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. I can’t say for certain, but I’m sure that played a part in him transferring from Rutgers and going to play for the A-10 St. Joe’s Hawks.
As a junior at St. Joe’s he continued to show his incremental growth and improvement. What I like most is his non-scoring numbers ticked up significantly where he averaged 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while also scoring 8.7 points.
He saved his best for last (or so it appeared) for his senior year, where he truly had a senior season breakout. Simpson averaged 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 steals, and was 91.7% from the charity stripe.
He was one of seven players nationally to average 13-5-5, 8th nationally in free throw percentage, led the A-10 in assists per game and free throw percentage, and the only player in the A-10 with 3 games of 10+ assists.
All of this led to him being first team All Atlantic 10. It was a fitting way to close his collegiate career…or is there another chapter to be written in the Derek Simpson book?
Analyzing Simpson’s Game
I consulted some of my family members who are diehard Rutgers hoops fans (yes, those exist) when I initially inquired about why Simpson transferred after consistent playing time as an underclassman, and he provided the above anecdote about Bailey and Harper. When pressing further on him, he said that Simpson was beloved by a lot of Rutgers fans, but was incredibly inconsistent. He mentioned specifically about his shooting woes.
Simpson’s numbers back that claim up. Simpson is a career 36.8% shooter from the floor, with his three point numbers at 29.5%. If you are looking for silver lining, you hope that his senior year explosion is a sign of things to come. He averaged 42.1% from the floor, 31.5% from 3, and 91.7% from the free throw line in his final year.
Simpson has optimal size at lead guard for the Big East at 6’3, although he could use a few pounds to bulk up. His experience playing in the Big 10 will be useful, as that conference has become a basketball powerhouse.
What Simpson would bring is a guy who knows how to run the show. He had 20 games with 5 assists or more last year. Providence is going to have a plethora of scoring options, and Simpson can be the table setter for them.
Simpson’s height and length also allows him to be an extremely solid defensive guard. He had 8 games of 3 steals or more last year.
Fit with Providence Friars
As we mentioned on the latest podcast, this wouldn’t be an addition that just bolsters the depth. Simpson being eligible may mean that he is the PG1 heading into opening night.
What does this do to Hightower and Mack? You need to see how they fare in practice, but it would presumably slide them one spot down the depth chart. Mack and Hightower would be coming off the bench I’d imagine.
Summary
I despise what college sports has become, but Hodgson is doing what he was hired to do: put together the best college basketball team Providence has to offer. While there is frustration with the delay in eligibility for Pinion, Pate, and now Simpson, Hodgson would be doing a disservice to the team, school, and himself by not turning over every rock and finding any avenue possible to improve his team.
This isn’t Happy Camp where everybody gets equal playing time. We should embrace Hodgson trying to overrecruit his players, as that is how Providence takes a step forward. No guaranteed starting spots, no favoritism, let the best duke it out in practice.
My one complaint is the NCAA dragging their feet on a decision. Are we going to know if Simpson, Pinion, and Pate are eligible before October hits? Before the exhibition? Before opening night? Your guess is as good as mine. That, my friends, is the NCAA in a nutshell.
We’ll keep you up to speed as more news comes out about the roster and pending eligibility. Go Friar!