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With school out of session and the AAU circuit in full swing, it's time to revisit Villanova's recruiting targets for the class of 2017. Even though the 2016 class isn't finished and these prospects are just rising juniors, the staff has made plenty of offers. Here's the current scholarship outlook, courtesy of MikeJ.
Villanova is scheduled to lose three players - Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins and Darryl Reynolds - before this class sets foot on campus. That's a lot of production and depth on the wing and in the froncourt. Luckily, the Wildcats' staf has already made a ton of offers and appear in solid position with elite players who could reload that lost production.
Backcourt
With Jenkins and Hart out the door, a couple of players who can score both inside and out will be in high-demand for Jay Wright. That definitely shows up on their strategy with the early offers they've made so far in this class.
| Target | Hometown (HS & AAU) | Height/Weight |
Recruiting Profile (247Composite) | Also Considering | Trending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lonnie Walker
Reading, PA (Reading & Team Final) |
6'4", 180 lbs. |
4-star #49 Nationally #11 SG #2 Pennsylvania |
Temple Maryland Rutgers DePaul VCU
|
Walker is a very well-rounded player, with the ability to both handle the ball or work off of it, where he is a sharpshooter from the outside. He's already playing a year up in the EYBL, and is performing very well. Villanova offered Walker in February and looks to have a good shot early on. |
|
Jermaine Samuels
Weston, MA (The Rivers School & Expressions Elite) |
6'6", 190 lbs. |
4-star #23 Nationally #5 SF #1 Massachusetts |
UConn Providence Boston College |
Samuels was the first new offer of the spring recruiting period following the first EYBL session. The athletic wing can score both inside and out. Right now, the Crystal Ball has him as UConn's to lose. |
|
D.J. Harvey
Hyattsville, MD (DeMatha & Team Takeover) |
6'6", 185 lbs. |
5-star #12 Nationally #1 SG #1 Maryland |
Arizona Louisville Georgetown Maryland |
An elite DMV prospect, Harvey has said he will likely take an unofficial visit to Villanova while in the area for the Mary Kline Classic in late May. That visit should let the 'Cats know where they stand early. |
|
Jordan Tucker
White Plains, NY (Archbishop Stepniac & NY Lightning) |
6'7", 200 lbs. |
4-star #25 Nationally #6 SF #1 New York |
Syracuse UConn Indiana Arizona |
Tucker was one of the first offers Jay Wright made in the class and along with players like Samuels and Harvey, is an elite talent on the wing. |
|
Trevon Duval
Wilmington, DE (TBD & WE-R-1) |
6'3", 175 lbs. |
5-star #13 Nationally #2 PG #1 Delaware |
Louisville UConn Syracuse Maryland |
Another early offer by Wright, Duval has been one of the top performers on the UA circuit this spring and continues to collect major offers. He's the top point guard on the board for 'Nova. He's announced he is leaving St. Benedict's to transfer closer to home - but nothing has been announced yet. |
|
Quade Green
Philadelphia, PA (Neumann-Goretti & WE-R-1) |
5'11", 160 lbs. |
4-star #54 Nationally #11 PG #3 Pennsylvania
|
Michigan State Maryland Penn State Temple |
It doesn't appear Green currently holds a Villanova offer, but the staff were frequent visitors to watch him play during the high school season. He and Duval have been a formidable backcourt duo on the AAU circuit this summer. |
|
Kodye Pugh
Baltimore, MD (Blair Academy & WE-R-1) |
6'6", 185 lbs. |
4-star #124 Nationally #23 SF #4 Maryland
|
Georgetown Stanford Northwestern Virginia Tech |
The 'Nova staff scouted Pugh on multiple occasions over the winter, but no offer yet. Pugh reclassified to 2017 after deciding to transfer to Blair Academy. |
Frontcourt
When Reynolds leaves, Villanova will (presumably) still have Tim Delaney and Omari Spellman on campus. Right now, Jay Wright appears to be throwing all of his eggs in to one boat - which should tell you how strongly he feels about Bamba. Expect more offers to go out later this summer or in the fall/winter though.
| Target Hometown (HS) | Height/Weight |
Recruiting Profile (247Composite) | Also Considering | Trending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mohammed Bamba
New York, NY (Westtown & PSA Cardinals) |
6'9", 185 lbs. |
5-star #17 Nationally #6 PF #1 Pennsylvania |
Arizona UConn Maryland Texas Syracuse |
The lone frontcourt offer thus far, Bamba is perhaps the top priority for Villanova in his class. He's very close with Daniel Ochefu, which hopefully gives Villanova a leg up against the competition. |
|
Nick Richards
Manhasset, NY (St. Patrick's & Expressions Elite) |
6'10", 220 lbs. |
4-star #26 Nationally #5 C #2 New York |
Syracuse Kansas UCLA Seton Hall
|
Richards hasn't scored a Villanova offer yet, but he visited for Hoops Mania last fall and Wright was scouting him during the EYBL this spring. |
Anybody you think we should be tracking? Let us know and we'll add them to the board.
Make sure to stay tuned to our dedicated section for 2017 Villanova basketball recruiting where we'll be filing all our big boards along with any other posts that deal with recruiting in the 2013 cycle.
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