PC's Signing of G-League Player Moves the Friars Closer to Professionalism

PC's Signing of G-League Player Moves the Friars Closer to Professionalism

NOTE: Video is a GoLocal photo by Richard McCaffrey animated in AI.

 

Providence College is now one of a few but growing number of Division I college basketball programs signing professional players.

This week, GoLocal reported, and PC confirmed on Saturday that it had signed Dink Pate.

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He is a three-year professional who has never played college basketball. The G-Leaguer player averaged 16 points a game this past season for the Westchester Knicks, the affiliated team of the New York Knicks.

Last year, the Friars signed professional Estonian player Stefan Vaaks — the 20-year-old made the Big East All-Freshman team after this season, and shortly after announced he was leaving the Friars and headed to the transfer portal.

One difference between Pate and Vaaks is that Pate declared for the 2025 NBA draft and went undrafted.

Cronkite News reports, “What once was impossible has now become a trend. Professional basketball players from the NBA, the G League, and European leagues are coming back to play college ball, and it is altering the college landscape.

“You kinda get used to it,” Grand Canyon coach Bryce Drew told Cronkite. ‘It’s been going on for a couple years. I think coaches are smart. They want to get the best players out there, and if it is legal, then you try and get the best roster you can.”

 

Portal — the Revolving Door

Players leave the program faster than the Civic Center changes its name.

Two seasons ago, the Friars and many other programs saw the majority of their team leave for greener pastures.

The Friars reloaded for this past season, spending a reported $10 million or more in NIL salaries, but suffered through a disappointing season. The Friars finished tied for 8th in the Big East with an overall record of 15-18 and a conference record of 7-13.

PC coach Kim English was fired, and new coach Bryon Hodgson was hired.  The Friars' spending is off and running again.

According to sources who have knowledge of the program, PC will spend between $10 million and $12 million

San Diego State transfer guard Miles Byrd announced his commitment to Providence last Thursday, choosing the Friars over the University of Kentucky and several other high-major programs.

Byrd, a 6-6, 190-pound guard, is coming off a strong season in which he averaged 10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 40.5% from the field. He also added 1.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, earning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors for his impact on that end of the floor. 

Byrd is likely to earn in the $2 million range for the upcoming season.

Similarly, Pate is in that salary class or higher.

This past season, Pate signed a one-year, non-guaranteed $1.27 million Exhibit 10 deal with the New York Knicks organization for the 2025-26 season. An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, minimum-salary, non-guaranteed NBA deal frequently used for training camp, often to secure a player's G League rights

 

3-4-5 Colleges

The new vagabond lifestyle for players may allow them to make millions, but at the end of their eligibility, many do not have college degrees and have experienced little of the traditional college experience.

As examples, Duncan Powell, who leaves Providence this year, attended four colleges. For Jaylin Sellers, the Friars were his third college, and Jason Edward attended five schools, including PC.