Providence has landed another high-upside perimeter piece as 20-year-old Italian swingman Leonardo Marangon has committed to the Friars. The Italian wing out of UEB Gesteco Cividale in Italy’s Serie A2 (LNP) brings athleticism, defensive versatility and growing offensive efficiency to Bryan Hodgson’s first roster in Friartown. Marangon, born November 29, 2005, has averaged 9.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.7 APG and 1.1 SPG in 25.4 minutes per game across 34 contests in his second full season with Cividale. He’s shooting 44.7% from the field, 39.1% from 3-point range on 110 attempts, and 68.3% from the line while logging strong efficiency numbers for a young player in a professional league. He’s already been named U21 Player of the Month twice in the LNP and helped Italy to gold at the 2025 U20 EuroBasket. His shooting has improved dramatically this season with Cividale after being a career 25% 3-point shooter the prior two seasons with Cividale on 160 combined attempts. His TS% has also risen noticeably from 47.7% a year ago to 55.8%. His ORtg this season is 112.6 which would be in the 58th percentile in Division 1 and his 104.2 DRtg would be around the 80th percentile in college basketball. Crashing the offensive glass also seems to be a strength with 6.2% ORB rate which would be around 69% percentile in college basketball Also worth mentioning is a 12.2% assist rate which would be around 53rd percentile in college basketball.
Serie A2 sits as Italy’s second-tier pro league and one step below the top-flight Serie A (LBA). It’s a physical, well-coached environment packed with experienced imports and veterans. The league has many former US college players (D1 and D2 standouts, G-League hopefuls and even ex-NBA fringe guys) head overseas to extend their careers. Names like Kadeem Allen (Arizona), Terry Allen (Richmond), Robert Allen (North Texas) and recent undrafted prospects such as former Big East players in Pierre Brooks (Butler), Billy Garrett (DePaul) and D’Angelo Harrison (St. John’s) have logged minutes in the league recently. Marangon has been holding his own against that mix of seasoned Americans and European vets.
Marangon is considered a high-motor defender with length and quickness who can disrupt passing lanes and crash the glass (he’s averaging over 4 boards as a wing). He’s shown the ability to finish in transition, cut effectively and attack closeouts. Offensively, he’s working to add a reliable shooting stroke and improved decision-making this season.
Hodgson has made it clear he wants players who buy into a hard-nosed, team-first culture while bringing upside. Marangon checks both boxes as a 20-year-old who has already logged meaningful pro minutes overseas and given all the other talent Hodgson and staff have already accumulated on the wing Marangon should get time to acclimate to the college game and US while developing.
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