Villanova Basketball’s Phil Booth and Eric Paschall are preparing for the NBA Draft

Happy Tuesday Nova Nation! Former senior captains Phil Booth and Eric Paschall may have played their final game in a Villanova uniform, but their basketball days are far from over. Both players are working toward the goal of making the NBA, and each of them already know what the next step is as their paths begin to diverge.

For Paschall, he’s been on NBA mock draft boards all season, ranging from anywhere in the mid-first to the late second round. His expected landing spot should start to clear up a bit as teams start to focus more on the draft, but he reportedly already has an invite to the NBA Draft Combine in hand:

Phil Booth’s path to the combine is going to be much tougher, but at least there is a path. Booth has been invited to the NBA G-League Elite Camp, which also takes place in Chicago, three days prior to the NBA Draft Combine.

He’s one of 40 draft eligible players that have not received combine invites that will be in attendance, alongside big college names like Tyus Battle (Syracuse), Tacko Fall (UCF), Ethan Happ (Wisconsin), Sagaba Kanate (West Virginia), Terance Mann (Florida State), Caleb and Cody Martin (Nevada), Luke Maye (UNC), and Josh Perkins (Gonzaga). He’s also joined by fellow Big East players Trey Mourning (Georgetown), Myles Powell (Seton Hall), and Max Strus (DePaul), although it’s believed Powell will pull out of the NBA Draft and return to Seton Hall for next season. The camp will also feature 40 G-League players, although they will not combine with the draft eligible players for 5 on 5 games or athletic testing.

At the end of the Elite Camp, a “select group” of the 40 draft eligible players will be invited to remain in Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine. Booth has already hired an agent and will hopefully be among those few selected to stick around when the elite prospects come to town. His road to the NBA might be much harder than most, but this is a player who’s succeeded in the face of adversity for his entire career.

All of Nova Nation will be pulling for both of these players to continue succeeding wherever their basketball careers take them. Hopefully they can both reach their dreams of playing in the NBA, whatever path that takes. Best of luck to both of you! Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!

In other “news”, the CAA and Villanova Football sign with FloSports, the college basketball trial is coming to a close, and Villanovans set a new school record with 31 Fullbright Grants this year. Enjoy!

NBA Wildcats

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40 NBA Draft-eligible players and 40 NBA G League Players to participate in Chicago.

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The Toronto Raptors needed somebody to step up and help forward Kawhi Leonard, who is playing some outstanding basketball against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Villanova University

Villanova Sets New University Record for Prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Grants | Villanova University
The U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have announced the Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for 2019-20, with 31 Villanova University students and alumni winning the prestigious awards. This marks the largest single-year number of Fulbright awards in the University’s history, surpassing the previous record of 16 winners set in 2018-19.

Villanova Football

Colonial Athletic Association Selects FloSports As Primary Media Partner | FloFootball
The CAA selects FloSports as primary media partner, adding more than 300 annual collegiate games across the FloSports network.

2019 FCS vs. FBS: CAA Football | Yahoo! Sports
(STATS) - With Maine and Villanova posting wins over FBS programs last season, CAA Football continued to be adept at knocking off the big boys of Division I college football.

Villanova Athletics

Colgate Hires Villanova Assistant Edward Pretre As New Head Coach | Swim Swam
Colgate University has announced Villanova assistant Edward Pretre as its new head coach for men's and women's swimming & diving.

Villanova women’s soccer adds Alex Balog to coaching staff | Soccer Wire
Alex Balog, who most recently served six seasons as the head coach at Montana State Billings, has joined the Villanova men’s soccer staff as an assistant coach, it was announced today.

FBI College Basketball Trial

Federal college hoops bribery trial now in hands of jury | tucson.com
Wildcats again factor prominently in the proceedings, with attorneys for government and defense mentioning Book Richardson, Sean Miller and a handful of former and would-be players in closing arguments.

NYC jury begins deliberations at college hoops bribery trial | CollegeBasketballTalk
A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of two men accused of bribing assistant college basketball coaches.

College basketball bribery trial: Coaches injected into the proceedings again in closing arguments | CBSSports.com
College coaches are not the ones on trial, but their actions, in violation of NCAA rules, can't escape scrutiny

NCAA basketball bribery trial: Jury deliberations begin | SI.com
Christian Dawkins and Merl Code await the verdict of a Manhattan jury after closing arguments ended on Monday.

College Basketball

Why are women still behind the eight ball when it comes to coaching opportunities? | Philly Sports Network
It’s the year 2019, and it appears that we as “People” are still behind in gender equality throughout the sports world.