The Providence Crier

Friars Bolster Frontcourt & Land Northwestern Big Arrinten Page

The roster is starting to crystallize for the 2026-2027 season for the Providence Friars. Last night’s commitment of Northwestern big man Arrinten Page gives Providence a nice 1-2 punch at the 5 position with Page and Yale transfer big Samson Aletan.

Page’s commitment is a massive win for the Friars. His career has been up and down, but when the motor is on and engine is running consistently, he’s has shades of an NBA big. I found myself wondering why he wasn’t more of a wanted commodity and known name this portal cycle, and I have to think it was because of the following:

1. Northwestern’s lack of success

2. His hot/cold streak. One game he looks like an NBA big. Another game he is a no-show.

3. This being his first year in three years of college producing.

Whatever the case, Providence is looking to build off Page’s breakout junior season at Northwestern.

He has untapped potential that many big men do not possess. He has the tools, and you hope Hodgson and staff can turn that potential into consistent production.

Arrinten Page would a good get for Providence.

Not totally sure what happened at NW this year, but he showed some awesome flashes in the beginning of the year.

Has some real passing stuff + is a physical beast.

I still believe he at least gets a cup of coffee in the NBA. https://t.co/thTxj4lmpO
— JPR (@Scouting_Col) April 17, 2026

We break down the commitment below and project Page’s roster fit for 2026-2027.

Arrinten Page becomes the 6th player added to the Friars via the portal. We will have a commitment article out at some point tomorrow but until then check out the preview article we wrote earlier this week ICYMI.

Go Friars! https://t.co/9PdOYczdFA
— TheProvidenceCrier (@ProvidenceCrier) April 18, 2026

Providence Crier Portal Player Preview- Arrinten Page

The Friars got on the board with the first big man addition to the team yesterday with Samson Aletan, but the staff is not done. Insert Arrinten Page, who was spotted on campus today, the 6-11 big man from Northwestern. Page had previous stops at USC and Cincinnati before finally breaking out for the Wildcats this past season. He started 16-of-29 games and averaged 10.2 PPG (54.6% FG), 4.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, and 1.2 BPG.

We preview his game below.

Providence Crier Portal Player Preview: Northwestern G Jayden Reid

Providence is on a heater with landing several commitments over the past week, and PC is looking to close on Northwestern lead guard Jayden Reid as the next Shark sighting.

Hodgson and Staff have done an elite job of building out their wing with additions of Byrd, Vanterpool, Sabol, and Pate, while retaining Mela, and they yesterday added their first frontcourt player in Yale center Samson Aletan. I’d look to see Providence add another true center to the roster and a utility frontcourt player like a Jerald Colonel to have three game ready bodies in the frontcourt.

Now, the glaring gap in the roster is a true point guard. Gavin Hightower was a fantastic addition, as I think he’s going to be a first off the bench guard, but it would be a lot to ask a true sophomore who only played 10 minutes a game last year in the American to come in and run the show for a Big East squad. Hodgson needs to add a veteran lead guard to run point for this roster, and Jayden Reid just may be the guy.

NEWS: Memphis is involved with Northwestern G Jayden Reid (@jaydenreid0), source confirms to me.

Auburn, VCU, Kansas State, Texas A&M + others are also reportedly involved. Averaged 10.1 PPG and 5 AST on 39/32/82 splits.

Reid can really dish it (2.69 AST/TO + top 5 in B10 in… pic.twitter.com/mAlR5BCUmw
— Hitmen Hoops (@HitmenHoops) April 9, 2026

We break down his game below.

Hodgson and Staff Continue to Add: Yale’s Samson Aletan Latest Commit

Bryan Hodgson and his staff had another surprise in store for Wednesday evening. After learning earlier in the day that Buffalo’s all-time leader in three points made in a season, Ryan Sabol, was committing to Providence it seems that would be all the commitments for the day. After all there were no shark gifs from Bryan Hodgson’s twitter account after Sabol’s commitment.

Well Sabol wasn’t the only commitment to Friartown that’d be announced Wednesday. The shark gif was just a little late.

Yale big man Samson Aletan committed to Providence, and the Friars have their first true big on the roster. We discuss the impact of his commitment and fit with the 2026-2027 Friars below.

Friars Continue to Add in The Portal: Sharpshooter Ryan Sabol the Latest to Commit to PC

Another day, another shark gif, and another commitment for the Providence Friars. Per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello Ryan Sabol, a 6-3 guard from the University of Buffalo committed to Coach Hodgson and staff on Wednesday. Sabol had visited this week and quickly made his decision to join the Friars for his senior season.

We break down the commitment below.

The Shark Lands a (Different) Bird: Florida Atlantic Owl Transfer Devin Vanterpool Commits to Providence

Coach Bryan Hodgson is on a recruiting tear this offseason, flexing his recruiting chops in a way that even the most bullish of Providence fans wouldn’t expect. After retaining do-everything wing Ryan Mela and landing defensive weapon Myles Bird and G-League star Dink Pate, Hodgson and staff added another high level portal player into the wing rotation.

We did an in-depth player preview on Vanterpool below, and we’ll take the time to reflect on how Vanterpool will mesh with the current Providence players on the 2026-2027 roster.

Providence Crier Player Preview- Devin Vanterpool

Providence Crier Portal Player Preview- Ryan Sabol

Ryan Sabol is a 6-3 guard and comes from a program familiar to Bryan Hodgson. Sabol has started 89 games over the past three seasons for the University of Buffalo, where Hodgson spent four years as an assistant under Nate Oats. Through his three seasons at Buffalo Sabol has only gotten better. The Gonzaga College High product earned third team all-MAC averaging 18.8 PPG.

Sabol was rumored to be on campus earlier this week for a visit to Friartown. We break down his game and fit with Providence.

Ryan Sabol has been an outstanding college player. It’ll be interesting to see whether he transfers for his final year of eligibility. He’s averaging 18.4 points per game, shooting 40% from three and an impressive 54.2% on top-of-the-key threes.

pic.twitter.com/ddTjRsuZsA
— JPR (@Scouting_Col) March 5, 2026

Providence Crier Portal Player Preview – Yale C Samson Aletan

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.

Yale forward Samson Aletan recently completed a visit to Providence, per source.

Friar? pic.twitter.com/FBVO17MsF3
— The Portal Report (@ThePortalReport) April 14, 2026

We break down Aletan’s game below and how he’d fit with the 2026-2027 Providence Friars.

Providence Crier Player Preview- Devin Vanterpool

Devin Vanterpool is a 6-4 guard who really broke on the scene this past year in his sophomore season at Florida Atlantic.

Vanterpool in his freshman season at FAU didn’t get a ton of time, as is expected for most freshman. He only averaged 8 minutes per game and 2 points per contest. This past season he took on a larger role and seized the opportunity. He started in all 24 games he was available to play, leading the Owls in scoring at 15.8 PPG. He would end up winning AAC Most Improved award this past season.

We break down his game below in more detail and how he’d fit with the Friars.

Providence Crier Player Preview: Stephen F. Austin F/C Jerald Colonel

Providence is looking to replenish the frontcourt after the graduation of Cole Hargrove, departure of Oswin Erhunmwunse to Creighton, and presumed transfer of Peteris Pinnis. Hodgson is likely going to have to nab 3 frontcourt bodies to fill out the 4/5 position on the roster, and word has come that there is a Zoom meeting being set up with SFA frontcourt player Jerald Colonel early this week.

NEWS: SF Austin’s Jerald Colonel is entering the transfer portal, his agent Larry Hall of @HOFSportsGroup told @LeagueRDY.

The 6-foot-9 big man out of Savannah, Georgia was named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year this season.

He averaged 5.0PPG, 7.3RPG,… pic.twitter.com/PcjeNDY9qH
— Sam Kayser (@KayserHoops) April 6, 2026

The Providence Crier will detail his game below and how he’d fit into the plans for the 2026-2027 Friars.

Hodgson Gets First Bull to Migrate North: Gavin Hightower Commits to Providence

We’ve been speculating about when we’d see a few USF guys that played under Coach Hodgson follow him north to Providence. We have our first domino to fall, as freshman 6’1 point guard Gavin Hightower is transferring to Providence College.

We detail the commitment below and highlight all facets of his game.

Player Portal Preview: Alabama Center Aiden Sherrell

The Shark is looking to land a 5 man to anchor his frontcourt, and Sherrell has made the short list on players Hodgson is pursuing for the 2026-2027 Friars. Sherrell played his first two seasons for Hodgson’s mentor in Nate Oats. The 6’10, 250lb big only played 9 minutes/game his freshman year, but exploded onto the scene as a sophomore.

We break down his game below.