Wake Forest point guard Tony Chennault visited Villanova this weekend, and it appears he left the campus feeling good about the Wildcats. According to a Philadelphia Daily News source, he is "close to transferring to Villanova," and an announcement could come from the school in the next few days. He would be able to take on a scholarship vacated by the departures of Dominic Cheek and Maalik Wayns, who both hope to play professionally next season.
Chennault plans to apply for an NCAA hardship waiver, which would allow him to play immediately in the fall instead of sitting out for a year as transfer rules normally dictate. The basis for the waiver is his mother, Crystal Mortan, who hasn't been healthy while he was away at Wake Forest. The Daily News source indicated that the waiver would not be a factor in Chennault's transfer.
Villanova pursued the point guard when he was a high school recruit, but he ultimately chose the Demon Deacons instead. On his re-do, the 6-2 lead guard from Neumann-Goretti was considering St. Joseph's and other area schools, but has only visited Villanova.
It is unknown if Chennault's commitment would have an impact on the decisions of Rice transfer Dylan Ennis, who visited the Main Line campus the week before and traveled to Cincinnati this weekend, or Duke transfer Michael Gbinije. Only Ennis plays the same position as Chennault, but if a hardship waiver is granted, Ennis would only overlap with him at Villanova for one season.
The move would also affect the position of Ty Johnson and Ryan Arcidiacono, both young point guards who were expected to handle the position last season.
Ennis to visit Virginia Tech
According to Doug Doughty of the Roanoke Times, another Villanova transfer-target, Dylan Ennis will visit Virginia Tech the weekend of May 5. He has previously told VUhoops that he hopes to make a decision before the end of the Spring semester. Boston College and Virginia are also reportedly on his final list of five, but no visit dates have been set for those schools at this point, he has completed visits to both Villanova and Cincinnati.