Malik Mack is leaving Georgetown to play for the Friars (Photo: Getty Images)
By KEVIN McNAMARA
The Big East-on-Big East crime wave is continuing with an especially juicy angle.
Malik Mack, a two-year starter for Ed Cooley at Georgetown, is transferring to play his final collegiate season at Providence. The news was first reported by Joe Tipton of On3.
Mack joins a Providence backcourt that features Gavin Hightower, a transfer from South Florida, as the only true point guards on the roster. Dink Pate, an addition from the G League, is also a ball-dominant guard even though he is listed at 6-foot-8. Devin Vanterpool (Florida Atlantic) is also a ball-handler who can lead the offense.
Mack plays more like a combo guard and while he averaged 4.1 assists for the Hoyas last season he’s also a dangerous scorer who posted 14 points a game in each of his two season playing for Cooley. Mack’s 3-point shooting took a dive last season from 35 to 29 percent (56-of-188) but the Hoyas relied heavily on both him and KJ Lewis to create much of the offense. Mack is a decidedly better spot-up shooter than a penetrator through contact and he’s dependable with the ball as his 138 assists to just 67 turnovers shows.
At 6-2 and (barely) 175 pounds, Mack frequently battled to hold up under the strain of competing with the ball on an every game basis. He’ll be able to both lead the Providence offense and be free to shoot and attack the rim with notably more help on next year’s Friar team.
Mack is just the latest transfer within the Big East. Providence is losing big man Oswin Erhunmwunse to Creighton, for example. UConn is grabbing Seton Hall freshman big man Najai Hines. The most controversial transfer was Bryce Hopkins who left PC after barely playing for two seasons due to injury and then shining at St. John’s in 2024-25.
