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PROVIDENCE – Bryan Hodgson would be more concerned if he could name his starting five four months before the season opener.
Competition throughout eight weeks of summer workouts is what Providence’s coach wants to see before a break in August. This upcoming men’s basketball campaign for the Friars – the 100th in program history – will be a clean slate for all involved.
Ryan Mela and walk-on guard John Jackson are the lone returners to an outfit that went a combined 27-38 over the last two seasons. Hodgson and his staff were hired away from South Florida to replace Kim English and put Providence back on a path that saw regular NCAA Tournament berths between 2014 and 2023. That process was ongoing Monday afternoon, July 6, at the Ruane Development Center.
“We’ve got to get a lot better in a lot of different areas,” Hodgson said. “But our attitude, our effort, our consistency – all those things are where they need to be. And when those things are in place then you’ve got a shot.”
Leonardo Marangon is the lone player on the 2026-27 roster currently not on campus. The professional wing from Italy is expected to join the Friars later this month. Christian Pino’s hiring last week finished the staff, and he’ll serve as recruiting coordinator.
Providence is working both on and off the floor while attempting to prepare for November. Skill development and the weight room address the physical. A team meeting each Friday covers the mental – summer reading for both players and staff features ‘The Let Them Theory,’ a New York Times bestseller by Mel Robbins that offers a guide to limiting the impact of outside opinions and actions.
“Best group of guys I’ve been around in a while on a team top to bottom,” Mela said. “It’s been great connecting with them. I think we’re jelling really well.”
Mela pledged to continue with the Friars for his junior year early in the spring. He then functioned as host and recruiter while Providence welcomed multiple transfer portal targets. Ryan Sabol (Buffalo), Arrinten Page (Northwestern), Gavin Hightower (South Florida), Jacob Bannarbie (UNLV), Samson Aletan (Yale), Miles Byrd (San Diego State), Devin Vanterpool (Florida Atlantic) and Malik Mack (Georgetown) all played at other schools last season.
“There are some guys who are better than their film,” Hodgson said. “We think they fit us more than maybe what they did at their previous stop.
“Sometimes you get so caught up in the numbers or maybe what somebody averaged at their last school, how many stops they’ve made. Well, there’s fit involved. We’ve got guys who we feel are a better fit here than they were at their previous institutions.”
Hightower has been able to offer some insight after playing a part with a group of Bulls that went 25-9 and reached March Madness in 2025-26. He’s a developing point guard who was recruited out of Los Angeles power Sierra Canyon, the high school program that counts Bronny James, Marvin Bagley III, BJ Boston and more. Hightower figures to be battling Mack and Vanterpool for minutes as a primary ballhandler.
“He's been coaching us with how we should be ready for practice, how we should be ready for film, what we need to expect if Hodgson gets on us,” Mela said. “He does it to everyone. He’s just being the best leader he can be.”
Providence has at least three nonconference games booked with Nebraska at Mohegan Sun, at the University of Rhode Island and against old Big East rival Syracuse at TD Garden. The Friars will also play three games as part of the Maui Invitational over Thanksgiving. Hodgson is hoping to release his nonconference schedule at some point this month, and the start of that journey will coincide with firmer decisions about his rotation.
“We’re coming here with the expectation to win this year,” Hodgson said. “There’s no rebuild. There’s no Year Zero. Everybody’s got the same opportunity that we do across the college basketball landscape.
“We’re very fortunate to be here at Providence and have great support to do what we need to do to win. We’re right in the middle of doing that.”
[email protected]
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: New coach Hodgson gives update on Providence basketball's turnaround
Continue reading...
Competition throughout eight weeks of summer workouts is what Providence’s coach wants to see before a break in August. This upcoming men’s basketball campaign for the Friars – the 100th in program history – will be a clean slate for all involved.
Ryan Mela and walk-on guard John Jackson are the lone returners to an outfit that went a combined 27-38 over the last two seasons. Hodgson and his staff were hired away from South Florida to replace Kim English and put Providence back on a path that saw regular NCAA Tournament berths between 2014 and 2023. That process was ongoing Monday afternoon, July 6, at the Ruane Development Center.
“We’ve got to get a lot better in a lot of different areas,” Hodgson said. “But our attitude, our effort, our consistency – all those things are where they need to be. And when those things are in place then you’ve got a shot.”
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Leonardo Marangon is the lone player on the 2026-27 roster currently not on campus. The professional wing from Italy is expected to join the Friars later this month. Christian Pino’s hiring last week finished the staff, and he’ll serve as recruiting coordinator.
Providence is working both on and off the floor while attempting to prepare for November. Skill development and the weight room address the physical. A team meeting each Friday covers the mental – summer reading for both players and staff features ‘The Let Them Theory,’ a New York Times bestseller by Mel Robbins that offers a guide to limiting the impact of outside opinions and actions.
“Best group of guys I’ve been around in a while on a team top to bottom,” Mela said. “It’s been great connecting with them. I think we’re jelling really well.”
Mela pledged to continue with the Friars for his junior year early in the spring. He then functioned as host and recruiter while Providence welcomed multiple transfer portal targets. Ryan Sabol (Buffalo), Arrinten Page (Northwestern), Gavin Hightower (South Florida), Jacob Bannarbie (UNLV), Samson Aletan (Yale), Miles Byrd (San Diego State), Devin Vanterpool (Florida Atlantic) and Malik Mack (Georgetown) all played at other schools last season.
“There are some guys who are better than their film,” Hodgson said. “We think they fit us more than maybe what they did at their previous stop.
“Sometimes you get so caught up in the numbers or maybe what somebody averaged at their last school, how many stops they’ve made. Well, there’s fit involved. We’ve got guys who we feel are a better fit here than they were at their previous institutions.”
Hightower has been able to offer some insight after playing a part with a group of Bulls that went 25-9 and reached March Madness in 2025-26. He’s a developing point guard who was recruited out of Los Angeles power Sierra Canyon, the high school program that counts Bronny James, Marvin Bagley III, BJ Boston and more. Hightower figures to be battling Mack and Vanterpool for minutes as a primary ballhandler.
“He's been coaching us with how we should be ready for practice, how we should be ready for film, what we need to expect if Hodgson gets on us,” Mela said. “He does it to everyone. He’s just being the best leader he can be.”
Providence has at least three nonconference games booked with Nebraska at Mohegan Sun, at the University of Rhode Island and against old Big East rival Syracuse at TD Garden. The Friars will also play three games as part of the Maui Invitational over Thanksgiving. Hodgson is hoping to release his nonconference schedule at some point this month, and the start of that journey will coincide with firmer decisions about his rotation.
You must be registered for see images
“We’re coming here with the expectation to win this year,” Hodgson said. “There’s no rebuild. There’s no Year Zero. Everybody’s got the same opportunity that we do across the college basketball landscape.
“We’re very fortunate to be here at Providence and have great support to do what we need to do to win. We’re right in the middle of doing that.”
[email protected]
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: New coach Hodgson gives update on Providence basketball's turnaround
Continue reading...
