Connor Whalen ‘28

by Connor Whalen ‘28 on September 24, 2026

In addition to the headline adds of Dink Pate ’30 and Miles Byrd ’27G, head coach Bryan Hodgson added plenty of depth pieces, loading his team with offensive talent of all kinds. Ryan Sabol ’27 and Devin Vanterpool ’28 figure to be the two biggest offensive threats this year outside of assumed No. 1 option, Pate. 

With Sabol, the Friars are getting one of the best sharpshooters in the country. The 6’3” Buffalo transfer shot 39.9 percent from three last season on a ridiculous 9.6 takes per game, giving him 3.8 makes per game from beyond. Sabol can shoot off the dribble, off the catch, in pick-and-roll looks, from the mid-range; he really has no holes in that aspect of his game. He will give the Friars a steady, efficient three-point shooter, and with more offensive talent around him this year—and less defensive attention, presumably—he could be poised for a breakout season. Sabol also flashed his passing ability last year, posting 3.3 assists per game and even putting up 10 assists in one night against UMass. Sabol’s role to start the year seems likely to be the team’s sixth man, but he will no doubt get plenty of minutes and could certainly see himself in a starting role at some point—that is, if he does not start there from the beginning.

Vanterpool should be PC’s starting shooting guard, giving Hodgson’s team a wing scoring option. He shot a solid 35.1 percent from three, posting 15.8 points per game in his breakout season at FAU. He ranked in the 87th percentile in NCAA for both spot-up shot attempts and those off the dribble, and shot a tremendous 44.7 percent from the left wing and 48.4 percent from the right. With Mack, Sabol, Pate, and Mela figuring to be first choice pick-and-roll ball-handlers, having Vanterpool on the wing will be a massive weapon for this team. Beyond his shooting, Vanterpool is also a versatile two-way player, posting 6.3 rebounds per game at only 6’ 4”, along with 1.5 steals per game, just under a block per game, and 2.4 assists per game last year. He will be a huge piece on this team both offensively and defensively, serving as yet another example of Hodgson’s approach in emphasizing athleticism, three-point shooting, and defending while recruiting players to suit his fast-paced brand of basketball.