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The Wildcats only have two juniors on their roster, but they will serve important roles this season after they both started last year.
The Players
#21 Jannah Tucker (RS Jr.) 6-0, G/F -- Baltimore, Md./New Town (HS)/Tennessee (College)
#31 Adrianna Hahn, 5-6, G -- Wilmington, Del./Ursuline Academy
The Breakdown:
Most of the buzz has been surrounding Adrianna Hahn, a 5-foot-6 guard that showed tons of promise when she first stepped onto the court back in the 2015-16 season. As a freshman, she earned All-Big East Freshman Team honors, as well as the conference’s Sixth Woman of the Year. She was a weapon off the bench that could score at an efficient rate.
When talented four-year players Caroline and Katherine Coyer graduated in 2016, Harry Perretta’s squad was looking for its identity. There was a lot of uncertainty following the departures of two players that had been a staple for the team. Factor in a strong recruiting class and a predominantly young roster, there were many questions heading into last year. In her first season as a full-time starter, Hahn—along with now-senior Alex Louin—gave the ‘Cats no reason to worry.
Like Louin, she’s capable of going all 40 minutes on the floor. Hahn maintained her smooth three-point stroke, scoring 12.6 points per game while draining 41.2 percent of her takes from deep. When she gets hot, she can take over a game. She’s a complete scorer and will be one of the focal points for the ‘Cats this season. Hahn was named a unanimous preseason All-Big East Team selection and was the only Villanovan to receive any preseason accolades.
However, there was a bit of concern from her head coach over her play this past offseason.
"She’s not shooting the ball as consistently as she did last year and that worries me,” said Perretta, back in October. "On our team, we weren’t really a great field goal shooting team last year, but she was one of the kids that shot the ball well close to 50 percent from the 2 and 3. Now she’s struggling from the three-point line, which worries me.”
Despite this, in the Wildcats’ exhibition game against East Stroudsburg, it looked like she returned to her true self. Hahn posted a game-high 21 points off of 8-of-13 shooting—including five made three pointers.
As for the other junior, Jannah Tucker, she didn’t take part in the preseason exhibition, as she sat out due to a minor injury. She’s back in action and will look to reclaim her role in the starting lineup.
Tucker, a 6-foot wing, made her debut with the Wildcats last season after sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules. She came to Villanova after an injury-filled time at Tennessee.
Once a top 10 recruit coming out of high school, Tucker finally got her chance to prove what she could do on the basketball court.
She started 28 of 31 games last season, averaging 9.2 points per game—right behind Louin and Hahn.
Tucker is an all-around firm wing and will be one of Villanova’s key players on the court. She has flashed a good shooting stroke, one that works with great range. However, she will need to improve upon being more efficient, something that should happen after getting used to playing at game-speed last year.
She was right up there with Louin and Hahn in terms of the amount of shots she took, but she only drained about 32.9 percent overall and an even worse 27.8 percent from deep.
Perretta has liked her play this offseason, and with her experience, she should see a much-improved year. Tucker can do a little of everything, so while many speak of a Louin-Hahn tandem headline, it’s very possible that it becomes a trio by the time the mid-season rolls around.