by Dorothée Durivage ‘28 and Emilia Farrell ‘28 on September 17, 2026
Sports
Malik Mack
Emilia Farrell ’28
Bryan Hodgson secured former Big East rival, Malik Mack, for the upcoming season at the expense of former coach Ed Cooley and his starting point guard. Mack was supposed to lead Georgetown’s turnaround, but in a shocking twist, he will end up finishing his college career at Providence. No stranger to Big East competition, Mack averaged 13.3 points per game, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists during his prior two seasons at Georgetown. During his time as a Hoya, Mack finished seventh in the Big East in assists per game, demonstrating his quick playmaking abilities. Prior to Georgetown, Mack spent his freshman year at Harvard, where he was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year with an impressive average of 17.2 points per game. In his 90 collegiate games, Mack has racked up a total of 1,290 points. Additionally, he has shot 79.3 percent (264-333) from the free throw line throughout his college career.
Mack will be an essential facilitator for Hodgson’s new team, likely taking on the role of both leading the offensive strategy and attacking the rim during games. During his three years of college ball, he has proven to be an overall dependable player who is not afraid to make contact on the court. Mack knows how competitive the Big East Conference can be, and he is no stranger to the energy at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. His scoring and playmaking abilities, as well as conference experience, make him one of Hodgson’s top players on this totally revamped team. Hodgson has previously excelled in the transfer portal at his prior schools, and Mack is hopefully no different. If nothing else, Mack will be a hero in the eyes of all Friar fans for leaving Cooley in the dust and fanning the flames of the heated Georgetown rivalry. Maybe it’s all an act of divine providence?
Miles Byrd
Dorothée Durivage ’28
Providence College’s basketball team is filled with new talent. Among them is Miles Byrd, a graduate student who transferred from San Diego State University, where he spent his undergraduate career. Having four years of NCAA basketball and three trips to March Madness from 2023 to 2025 under his belt, Byrd brings experience and leadership to an otherwise young team. The 6’6” defensive guard from Stockton, California, had a great year at SDSU, where he appeared and started in all 33 games during the 2025-2026 season, averaging 10.4 points per game. During his last season with the Aztecs, Byrd was named Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, earned his third Team All-Mountain West honors, and was named second Team All-NABC Pacific. Byrd was the only Aztec since at least the 1996-1997 season to have the impressive combined stats of 866 points, 375 rebounds, 205 assists, and 93 blocks. Byrd also completed his four-year Aztecs career ranked seventh in total career steals, accumulating 156 steals over his four seasons at SDSU. He was able to achieve this status by ranking sixth in single season steals with 64 steals in the 2024-2025 season and eighth with 63 steals in 2025-2026.
Before making it to SDSU, Byrd was a four-star prospect out of Lincoln High School, ranked No. 89 recruit nationally, No. 20 shooting guard, and No. 10 overall in California, according to 247 Sports. As a senior, Byrd was a McDonald’s All-American nominee, was named first team All-Northern California by MaxPreps, first-team all-state by CalHiSports, the SacHiSports Winter Player of the Year, and the TCAL co-Most Valuable Player of the Year. During his senior year he averaged 17.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks.