With the late signing period under way (or is it the regular signing-period?), Villanova recruit JayVaughn Pinkston has signed his national letter of intent.
Pinkston is a McDonalds All-American who was considered to be the best big man in New York City this past year. He is short for a power forward at 6'6", but at 235lbs, he has plenty of bulk and athleticism to succeed in the college game.
Pinkston has developed his outside game in recent years and participated in the 3-pt shooting contest at the McDonalds All-American game.
On Pinkston, Coach Jay Wright said:
JayVaughn is an incredibly talented young man who has a unique passion for the game. He has been well-coached byEdwin Gonzalez and Kimani Young. He can play multiple positions and has been a leader at Bishop Loughlin for four years. We are thrilled to welcome JayVaughn and his mom, Kerry, into the Villanova Family.
JayVaughn Pinkston is the seventh McDonald's All-American to sign with Jay Wright. The others are Jason Fraser, Scottie Reynolds, Corey Stokes, Taylor King, Dominic Cheek and Malik Wayns. He is the sixth all-american to join the Wildcats since 2006.
He joins James Bell as a freshman next year, while Markus Kennedy will spend another year at Winchendon and delay enrollment until 2011.
Official Release
VILLANOVA, Pa. – JayVaughn Pinkston, a 6-6 senior standout at Bishop Loughlin (N.Y.) High School who earned a place in the 2010 McDonald’s All-American Game, has signed a national letter of intent to attend Villanova, it was announced today.
“JayVaughn is an incredibly talented young man who has a unique passion for the game,” stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. “He has been well-coached by Edgar Gonzalez and Kimani Young. He can play multiple positions and has been a leader at Bishop Loughlin for four years. We are thrilled to welcome JayVaughn and his mom, Kerry, into the Villanova Family.”
Pinkston established himself as one of the nation’s top seniors in 2009-10 while averaging 25 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots per game at Bishop Loughlin, the alma mater of former Wildcat star Curtis Sumpter (2002). This versatile athlete was selected to compete at the 2010 McDonald’s All-American Game in March. In April, Pinkston scored 26 points and collected nine rebounds at the Capital Classic All-Star Game in Washington, D.C.
This addition brings to six the number of McDonald’s All-Americans have signed at Villanova since 2006. That list includes 2010 consensus first team All-American Scottie Reynolds; Corey Stokes; Taylor King; Dominic Cheek; Maalik Wayns and Pinkston. Reynolds will graduate in May but the rest of that contingent will be on the Villanova roster in 2010-11.
Pinkston becomes the third player to ink a national letter of intent to attend Villanova in the class of 2014. James Bell, 6-5, of Montverde (Fla.) Academy and 6-9 Markus Kennedy of The Winchendon School (Mass.) signed letters last fall.