Providence got their first big man for the 2026-27 season on Wednesday night when Yale grad transfer Samson Aletan, a 6;10 big man from Dallas, TX, committed to the Friars, according to DraftExpress.com’s Jon Chepkevich. The move gives Bryan Hodgson an immediate rotation piece with proven rim-running ability and elite rim protection who also will have a degree from the Ivy League program next month.Aletan started 29 games for Yale in 2025-26 and brings the type of efficient, low-usage anchor that Hodgson has thrived with at Arkansas State and USF.
Last season, Aletan posted 7.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, and 1.4 BPG in 25.8 MPG. He shot an efficient 57.8% from the field (74th percentile among interior bigs) while operating at a modest 15.6% usage rate. Defensively, the numbers jump off the page. Aletan ranks in the 95th percentile in defensive rebounding rate (23.5%) and the 92nd percentile in block rate (5.8%). His DRtg of 105.6 (66th percentile) and solid DRAPM show he’s a reliable anchor who contests shots without excessive fouling.
62.6% at the rim (71st percentile)
Elite 91st-percentile free-throw rate of 63.9% (he draws contact and finishes through it)
Overall true shooting percentage of 59.7% (76th percentile)
87th-percentile offensive rating of 123.6 and a 74th-percentile ORAPM of +1.11, proving he delivers meaningful impact even in a limited role
His offensive rating improved from 105.7 as a freshman to 122.5 as a sophomore and 123.6 as a junior, all while keeping usage steady between 15.6% and 17.1%. That progression underscores a player who has grown into a true rim-protecting anchor. While he was just average as a post-up player, Hodsgon’s offense doesn’t call for throwing the ball on the block, so Aletan can focus more time in other areas where he had lower usage last season but showed potential for very good numbers like being the roller in pick and roll action. He also scored 1.152 PPP on offensive rebound put backs which was solid at 53rd percentile, per Synergy.
After his father Samuel, a Nigerian immigrant and college professor, passed away from a heart attack right before 8th grade, Aletan made academics his top priority and also decided he would take basketball seriously. Aleton, who attended Lake Highland HS, told Dave Borges at CTInsider.com in October 2022 that, inspired by his father, he “decided that, whatever I was going to do, I was going to give it my all and go the extra mile, because that was something he always cared about. There was one class (computer science) that he didn’t get an ‘A’ on. He put in the extra mile and ended up majoring in that. So, that was kind of my mindset. Whatever I really wanted to do, I’d take the extra mile so I could reach what I wanted to reach.” There were other offers from Houston, Texas A&M and TCU but, Aleton chose Yale to honor his father’s lifelong emphasis on education an graduated from Yale in 3 years. At the time of his commitment, Aleton was the highest rated recruit in Yale history.
Aletan projects as a rotation center with immediate defensive and rebounding value. His efficient finishing, elite rebounding and shot-blocking give the Friars a reliable big who can contribute right away.
Here is the Scouting Report from the pcbb1917 Portal Committee Bot in the pcbb1917 Discord:
Scouting Report
Samson Aletan JR • Dallas, TX Interior Big | Yale (IVY) | 2025-26 6-10 • 29 Games
PER-GAME STATS
Points: 7.8 Rebounds: 5.8 Assists: 1.3 Steals: 0.7 Blocks: 1.4 Fouls: 2.6 TO Rate: 13.6% Minutes/Game: 25.8
SHOT DISTRIBUTION
FT: 55-94 (58.5%) [20th %ile]
↳ FT Rate: 63.9 [91st %ile]
2PT: 85-147 (57.8%) [74th %ile]
↳ Rim: 67-107 (62.6%) [71st %ile]
↳ Mid: 18-40 (45.0%) [66th %ile]
3PT: 0-0 (—%)
OFFENSIVE ROLE & IMPACT
Aletan serves as a low-usage, high-efficiency big man with a 15.6% usage rate paired with a 74th percentile ORAPM of 1.11, signaling meaningful offensive impact relative to his role. His 87th percentile ORtg of 123.6 underscores elite scoring efficiency, complemented by a 76th percentile true shooting percentage of 59.7 that highlights his effectiveness as a finisher and foul drawer.
SHOT PROFILE & PLAYMAKING
Aletan’s interior-heavy shot profile shines with 74th percentile two-point shooting (57.8%), 71st percentile rim finishing (62.62%), and 66th percentile mid-range accuracy (45.0%), though his free throw shooting lags at the 20th percentile (58.5%). Elite 91st percentile free throw rate (63.9) demonstrates exceptional contact generation. Playmaking is modest for a center with 40th percentile assist rate (7.1%), bolstered by strong 65th percentile ball security (13.59% turnover rate).
DEFENSIVE CONTRIBUTION
Aletan profiles as an average-to-solid defender with a 53rd percentile DRAPM of -0.0461, indicating he allows roughly average points compared to players at his position. His 66th percentile DRtg of 105.6 reinforces this baseline impact. Elite peripherals stand out including 95th percentile defensive rebounding rate (23.5%), 92nd percentile block rate (5.8%), and 43rd percentile steal rate (1.3%).
ADVANCED METRICS
Aletan’s advanced metrics depict a dependable all-around big with Above Average tier RAPM (1.156, 69th percentile) driven by defensive and rebounding strengths. His PORPAG of 2.3 ranks in the 75th percentile, reflecting robust per-possession productivity. A positive BPM of 1.92 captures his balanced contributions despite limited usage.
CAREER PROGRESSION
Aletan has shown consistent growth in offensive efficiency, elevating his ORtg from 105.7 as a freshman to 122.5 as a sophomore and 123.6 as a junior while holding usage steady between 15.6% and 17.1%. His RAPM improved to 3.005 in 2025 before settling at 1.156, with PORPAG reaching a strong 2.3 in his latest season. This progression highlights increasing reliability as Yale’s rim-protecting anchor.
PROVIDENCE FIT
Aletan’s profile generates a 58.1 overall fit score for the Hodgson system, bolstered by strong usage compatibility (65) and offensive style alignment (70.0). Defensive scheme fit at 58.0 complements his rim protection strengths. His closest archetype, Elite Anchor Big, positions him as a plug-and-play interior presence despite modest playmaking fit (40).
BOTTOM LINE
Aletan projects as a rotation center with immediate defensive value at high-major programs thanks to elite rim protection and rebounding. His efficient finishing offers starter upside.
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