Villanova Basketball’s All-Time Block Leaders: 2018 Update

With the 2017-18 season in the books and another National Championship in hand, it’s time to update the Villanova record books. This season three new players have joined the all-time ranks, while Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson cemented themselves as two of the program’s greats. Check in all week as we update a new category each day.

Since Daniel Ochefu graduated in 2016, the narrative around Villanova’s front court was that they didn’t have a rim protector to anchor their defense. Well with Omari Spellman patrolling the paint, consider that notion put to rest. Spellman, Bridges, and the rest of the team recorded the most blocks for a Villanova team in more than a decade. They also set a new school record for blocks in a game with 13 against Nicholls State.

Mikal Bridges finished his career with 101 blocks, including 43 in his junior season. He becomes just the 8th Wildcat to record over 100 blocks in their first three seasons with the team. Bridges recorded his 100th block in the Final Four blowout of Kansas.

Omari Spellman is just the third Wildcat to ever record 50+ blocks in their first season with the team. His 59 blocks were the most by a Villanova player in a single season since Jason Fraser had 67 in 2005. In fact, only Jason Lawson, Tom Greis, Harold Pressley, Malik Allen, Fraser, and Ed Pinckney have had better single season performances. That’s some elite company for the young freshman who already ranks 22nd in school history.

Looking ahead, Eric Paschall (42) will have a chance to join Villanova’s 50 block club. While he already has over 50 career blocks, 12 of them came during his freshman season at Fordham.