Villanova Basketball’s Kyle Lowry is an NBA Champion

Happy Friday Nova Nation! Last night Kyle Lowry became the 8th Villanova Wildcat to win an NBA Championship.

He joins former Nova players Herman Klotz, Paul Arizin, Larry Hennessy, Wali Jones, Bill Melchionni (x2), Chris Ford, and John Celestand as NBA Champions. Lowry is the longest active tenured Villanova alum in the NBA, now having played 13 years in the league. He is also the longest tenured member of the Raptors Championship team, spending seven seasons in Toronto.

Lowry’s basketball resume is easily the best of any Wildcat in the Jay Wright era, and is up there as one of the greatest in Villanova history. At the collegiate level he won a Big East Title and went to the NCAA Tournament in each of his two seasons, reaching the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8. At the NBA level, he’s a five time All-Star, a member of the 2016 All NBA Third-Team, and now an NBA Champion.

As for what’s next for the Champion, he’s been invited to play for his former coach Jay Wright as a member of Team USA this summer as the prepare for the FIBA World Championships and next year’s Olympics. Speaking of next season, he has just one year remaining on his current contract with Toronto. Now that he’s helped bring the city a championship, it will be interesting to see if they extend his stay in Toronto or let him explore free agency as a high demand veteran point guard.

Regardless of what’s in store for Lowry, he’s surely enjoying the moment and celebrating with his teammates and family. Congratulations Kyle, you’ve more than earned this!

In other “news”, updates from the recruiting trail, Villanova Football Alum Andy Weidel got a promotion with the Eagles, and Dante Cunningham should have been drafted higher. Enjoy!

Villanova Basketball

Early Look At Ohio State's Marquee Opponents In Chris Holtmann's Most Difficult Non-Conference Schedule Ever | Eleven Warriors
Never in Chris Holtmann's career has he a non-conference schedule as difficult as the one Ohio State will navigate as it opens the 2019-20 season.

Recruiting

Basketball Recruiting - NBPA Top 100: Superlatives from Wednesday's action | Rivals
The first day of the NBPA Top 100 Camp began on Wednesday as some of the best high school prospects from the 2020 and 2021 classes were on display. There was plenty to like and see thanks to the continued standout play from Terrence Clarke, Henry Coleman, Jabri Abdur-Rahim and others. Villanova prospect Jabri Abdur-Rahim is one of the more polished recruits in the Class of 2020.

Whether stressful or fun, Wildwood Catholic stars love recruiting process: McGarry | Press of Atlantic City
It’s nice to be wanted. Just ask Wildwood Catholic High School boys basketball players Taj Thweatt and Jahlil White. The two, who will be seniors in the fall, are in the midst of the exhilarating, thrilling, confusing, overwhelming and head-spinning process known as recruiting.

Top 100 Camp Notebook: Beekman Commits To Virginia | Jerry Ratcliffe
Abdur-Rahim, whose father Shareef was the third pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, also has a long list of potential landing spots, but admitted that Virginia is definitely in the mix. “I’d say on me the hardest would probably be Virginia, Texas, Michigan, Villanova, Kansas and Notre Dame,” said Abdur-Rahim.

Kyle Lowry

NBA Finals 2019: The longest tenured Raptors Kyle Lowry cements his legacy with his first championship ring | NBA.com
Kyle Lowry has been through it all as the longest tenured Raptors player, but he finally has his career defining moment and no one can take it away from him.

Kawhi Leonard Explained What He Text Kyle Lowry The Day He Was Traded | UPROXX
Kawhi Leonard explained his approach to this season after being traded to Toronto, and how a text with Kyle Lowry set the table for a title.

VIDEO: NBA Finals: Kyle Lowry says ‘words can’t explain’ how he feels | Global News
Watch NBA Finals: Kyle Lowry says ‘words can’t explain’ how he feels Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

VIDEO: NBA Finals: VanVleet jokes with Lowry about points in Game 6 | Global News
Watch NBA Finals: VanVleet jokes with Lowry about points in Game 6 Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

How the Raptors Won Their First N.B.A. Championship | The New York Times
Toronto held on despite a late push by the Golden State Warriors and won its first title.

NBA Wildcats

Re-Drafting Stephen Curry and the Epic 2009 NBA Draft Class 10 Years Later | Bleacher Report
Dante Cunningham has ended up as a great value for his draft position.

NFL Wildcats

Eagles promote Andy Weidl to VP of player personnel to take place of Joe Douglas | NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Eagles are promoting assistant director of player personnel Andy Weidl to fill Joe Douglas' old post as VP of player personnel.

Villanova grad Weidl locked up in Eagles' front office shuffle | delcotimes.com
PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles promoted Andy Weidl, formerly the right-hand man to Joe Douglas, to vice president of player personnel Thursday.