Providence has landed a high-upside perimeter piece. ESPN’s Jeff Borzello reported that 20-year-old G League guard Dink Pate has committed to the Friars for the 2026-27 season.
The 6-8, 210-pound Pate was one of the top recruits in the country coming out of L.G. Pinkston High School in Dallas. Originally a member of the class of 2024, he reclassified and graduated early. He ranked as high as 30th nationally at 247Sports and earned five-star recognition on several recruiting services. As a senior he averaged 20.3 points per game, earning District 13-4A MVP, All-Region, and All-State honors.
Instead of heading to college, Pate became the youngest American professional basketball player in U.S. history when he signed with the G League Ignite at age 17 in April 2023. He spent three professional seasons developing:
- 2023-24 (G League Ignite): 8.0 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.9 RPG in 23.6 MPG (31 GP).
- 2024-25 (Mexico City Capitanes): 10.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.9 APG in 27 MPG.
- 2025-26 (Westchester Knicks): 16.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.6 APG in 30.8 MPG across 36 games (33 starts), shooting 41.8% FG and 36.9% from three.
Pate turned down multiple NBA two-way contract offers this season to preserve his college eligibility, Borzello reported.
Pate gives Bryan Hodgson an immediate, versatile perimeter creator with ideal size for today’s game. At 6-8 with guard skills, he can handle the ball, initiate offense and play on or off the ball. His length, athleticism, and improving shot make him a mismatch nightmare in the Big East. Expect him to slide into a primary or secondary playmaking role right away and to provide scoring punch, rebounding from the perimeter and defensive versatility that fits Providence’s need for length and experience as they build their roster mostly from scratch with only Ryan Mela returning from last season. Pate pairs nicely with recent addition Miles Byrd as the Friars load up the wings.
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