3-star, 2021 guard Angelo Brizzi opens up on his decision to pick Villanova

For those who haven’t met Angelo Brizzi or seen him play yet, the Villanova Wildcats’ latest commit is seemingly made out of the same mold of players that came before him.

“My ability to shoot off the catch and off the dribble, that really opens up the rest of my game,” he said of his greatest strengths on the court. “Once people step out, I’m able to get by them, and when things break down, I think I’m a really good passer. I like to try to do the things that not everybody loves to do. I try and take charges, dive on the floor for loose balls. I’d say those are some of the positive aspects.”

On Monday night, the Warrenton, Va. native committed to Villanova, picking the Wildcats over other schools in his top eight list like Arizona, Michigan, California, Colorado, Davidson, Dartmouth, and Northwestern.

“I thought Coach Wright and his staff recruited me the hardest and that was really important,” Brizzi said of his decision to pick Villanova, who had been recruiting him since earlier this year. “Obviously, the recent success with winning and developing players, and putting people at the next level — especially point guards — I just thought it was the right place.”

Brizzi enjoyed another solid season at Highland (Va.), individually and at a team-wide level. The 6-foot-3 lefty was named the Most Valuable Player of the Delaney Athletic Conference for the second year in a row. He averaged 20.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 3.2 steals as a junior.

He was a catalyst in Highland’s historic season, which culminated in a 23-3 record and the team’s first-ever trip to the VISAA Division II semifinals.

Brizzi is currently rated a three-star guard in the class of 2021, according to 247 sports. He is the Wildcats’ fourth commit in what’s shaping up to be another great recruiting haul for Wright, joining a group that includes Trey Patterson (Somerset, N.J./Rutgers Prep), Nnanna Njoku (Hockessin, Del./Sanford School), and Jordan Longino (Doylestown, Pa./Germantown Academy).

“It was a great conversation,” Brizzi said of his first chat with Wright, following his commitment. “He was excited, my family was excited, so it was all good.”

Although the coronavirus pandemic stopped him from taking as many school visits as he would have liked and sped up the recruiting timeline, he’s gotten to see Villanova’s campus before.

It was well before he was being recruited by the Wildcats. He and his family were in Philadelphia, and decided to swing by and check out campus.

He enjoyed his trip, but hopes to take an official visit once he’s able to. Not only that, he’s looking forward to getting started as a college player and already has his sights set on achieving one goal.

“Another championship, that’s the goal,” Brizzi said. “That’s the only thing I’m concerned about right now. Getting there, getting to work, helping out however I can, and helping win a championship.”