:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49391133/usa-today-9151898.0.jpg)
With the news that Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree has committed to Villanova, the Wildcats are off to a strong start in the talented 2017 class. Jay Wright has his frontcourt anchor and can now turn his focus to the backcourt where the 'Cats are chasing some of the best talent in the country.
A recent string of offers has me intrigued. How likely is it to land Kevin Knox or Brian Bowen jumping into the game this late? Could they be trying to apply pressure to guys like Jermaine Samuels or Hameir Wright to jump on board? Or are they casting a wider net because they might feel they're fading with guys like Jordan Tucker and D.J. Harvey? Or is it that the National Championship means they can talk to better recruits and they're seriously trying to land those guys? Interesting to think about.
Here's the current scholarship outlook, courtesy of MikeJ.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6385221/VU_Hoops_Roster_Outlook.0.jpg)
Backcourt
Villanova is in strong position with several players, and it almost makes you think it could turn into a first-come first-serve situation. Judging by the offers, a ball-handling guard (Lykes, Green, Duval, Walker) is a priority, as is a wing with size (Samuels, Knox, Wright, Bowen, Randolph, Tucker, Smith, Harvey). It's an impressive group, and if Villanova can land one from each position they'll have one of their best classes in recent memory.
| Target | Hometown (HS & AAU) | Height/Weight |
Recruiting Profile (247Composite) | Also Considering | Trending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lonnie Walker
Reading, Pa. (Reading & Team Final) |
6'4", 180 lbs. |
5-star #24 Nationally #5 SG #2 Pennsylvania |
UCLA Oregon UConn Syracuse Miami |
Expect a ton of schools to try and get in the mix for Walker who has started off AAU on fire. He's said he will take visits before making any decisions. Still feel Villanova is positioned well here. |
|
Chris Lykes
Washington, D.C. (Gonzaga & Team Takeover) |
5'8", 150 lbs. |
3-star #128 Nationally #28 PG #1 D.C. |
Georgetown VCU Miami (FL) Notre Dame Virginia |
Lykes cut his list to 5, but is still picking up high-major offers so that could change. A recent visit and run on 'Nova picks in his Crystal Ball may be a good sign. |
|
Hameir Wright
Albany, N.Y. (Albany Academy & Albany City Rocks |
6'7", 180 lbs. |
4-star #68 Nationally #14 SF #3 New York |
Maryland Syracuse UConn Cincinnati West Virginia |
'Nova has been on him for a while, he's visited, and his comments on the EYBL would seem to indicate he may even be a 'Nova lean. He's been one of the most impressive players early on though, and several big schools are bound to jump in the mix soon. |
|
Jermaine Samuels
Weston, Mass. (The Rivers School & Expressions Elite) |
6'6", 190 lbs. |
4-star #44 Nationally #8 SF #2 Massachusetts |
UConn Providence Boston College |
Villanova has remained in strong pursuit of Samuels even when he was injured, which has made a big impact on him. Getting a visit is still key. |
|
Trevon Duval
Wilmington, Del. (Advanced Prep International & WE-R-1) |
6'3", 175 lbs. |
5-star #5 Nationally #1 PG #1 Delaware |
Maryland Louisville Kansas Baylor Oklahoma Arizona |
Duval has stated he's going to sign very late, so a long way to go in this one. But right now it would appear that Villanova and Maryland are at the top of the fray. |
|
Quade Green
Philadelphia, Pa. (Neumann-Goretti & PSA Cardinals) |
5'11", 160 lbs. |
4-star #39 Nationally #8 PG #3 Pennsylvania
|
Syracuse Michigan State Maryland Providence Duke |
Green's been on the rise and is starting to draw interest from the blue bloods. Cosby-Roundtree's commitment may help, but it'll be an uphill battle to keep him home. |
|
Kevin Knox
Tampa, Fla. (Tampa Catholic & E1T1) |
6'8", 195 lbs. |
5-star #6 Nationally #2 SF #1 Florida
|
Duke North Carolina Kentucky Florida State |
Villanova recently offered but their their scheduled in-home didn't happen. Wright was front and center for him this weekend, so they're still interested. |
|
Brandon Randolph
Yonkers, N.Y. (Westtown & PSA Cardinals) |
6'6", 185 lbs. |
4-star #57Nationally #12 SG #4 New York
|
Louisville Arizona Kansas
|
After months of tracking him at Westtown, Villanova finally extended an offer to Randolph. His recruitment has blown up, and he seems set on not cutting down his list until after AAU is over. |
|
Brian Bowen
Saginaw, Mich. (La Lumiere & Meanstreets) |
6'7", 185 lbs. |
5-star #20 Nationally #6 SF #2 Michigan
|
Michigan State Kentucky UCLA Michigan Kansas Maryland Texas |
Like Knox, Villanova is jumping in late with Bowen but he named 'Nova as one of eight schools coming after him the hardest. Sparty seems to be out in front. |
|
Justin Smith
Lincolnshire, Ill. (Adlai Stevenson & Mac Irvin Fire) |
6'7", 185 lbs. |
3-star #124 Nationally #29 SF #5 Illinois
|
Illinois Indiana Wisconsin Northwestern |
Jalen Brunson's high school teammate is a high-flying athlete who is looking like a potential late-riser in the rankings. |
|
Jordan Tucker
White Plains, N.Y. (Archbishop Stepniac & NY RENS) |
6'7", 200 lbs. |
4-star #31 Nationally #7 SF #2 New York |
Syracuse Maryland Kentucky Arizona St. John's Michigan |
Tucker is still listing Villanova as being involved, but he's starting to schedule visits and Villanova isn't on the list (yet). |
|
D.J. Harvey
Hyattsville, Md. (DeMatha & Team Takeover) |
6'6", 185 lbs. |
5-star #17 Nationally #3 SG #1 Maryland |
Duke Arizona Louisville Georgetown Maryland North Carolina |
Harvey just said Villanova is a "virtual lock" to make his next round of cuts. I'm personally skeptical of how viable 'Nova is here. |
|
Kellan Grady
West Roxbury, Mass. (Northfield Mt. Herman & NE Playaz) |
6'4", 175 lbs. |
3-star #164 Nationally #36 PG #5 Massachusetts
|
N/A |
Villanova never offered, and Grady committed to Davidson in early April. |
Frontcourt
With Cosby-Roundtree on board, it would be a surprise to see Villanova pursue any other true frontcourt players other than Mohamed Bamba at this stage. With his recruitment looking like it may last a while Wright can focus solely on him.
| Target Hometown (HS) | Height/Weight |
Recruiting Profile (247Composite) | Also Considering | Trending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree
Philadelphia, Pa. (Neumann-Goretti & Team Final) |
6'8", 215 lbs. |
3-star #132 Nationally #28 PF #5 Pennsylvania |
N/A
|
Cosby-Roundtree committed to Villanova on April 22 and should be a big help trying to recruit teammates Quade Green & Lonnie Walker. |
|
Mohamed Bamba
New York, N.Y. (Westtown & PSA Cardinals) |
6'11", 205 lbs. |
5-star #2 Nationally #2 PF #1 New York |
Duke Kentucky Maryland North Carolina |
Bamba won't cut his list down until August, but Villanova is in solid position. Duke seems to be the team to beat at this stage. |
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.
Not a member of VU Hoops? Sign up and start commenting. Follow us on social media for regular updates as well. You can also subscribe to our RSS Feed.
If you haven’t registered to comment on VU Hoops yet- it’s easy…
1. Click on the Sign Up link in the upper right hand corner
2. Pick a username (or you can register via Facebook or Yahoo)
3. Enter your details (with the secure SBN Privacy Policy)…And you are good to go. Just make sure to log in when you come back to the site and you’ll be able to see what comments are new since your last visit.