:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51592235/Dylan_Painter2.0.0.jpg)
Hometown: Hershey, Pa.
High School: Hershey (Pa.)
Height: 6'10"
Weight: 240
Player Preview
After a prolonged flirtation with rumors swirling that Painter was holding out for a ‘Nova offer, he got what he wanted and committed to Villanova in mid-September.
From Big East Coast Bias
From Big East Coast Bias
What may have been a curious recruitment at the time with Omari Spellman already committed, it now looks like a shrewd move with Spellman sitting out this season. While Painter won’t be as ready to contribute immediately as Spellman would have been, he provides a good backup option to Darryl Reynolds inside when the ‘Cats need more size.
A traditional ‘5’ man in appearance, Painter has shooting range out to the three-point line and in time should develop into a solid option inside within Jay Wright’s 4-out-1-in offense. He excelled as a shot-blocker and rebounder for Team Final, and that’s likely where his upside lies early in his carer.
As with most young players, how much of an impact he makes this season likely depends on how quickly he picks up the defensive scheme. Eric Paschall has reportedly looked great in the small-ball ‘5’ role, so Painter’s upside may be limited to when the matchup calls for him.
Best Case Scenario: Painter lays claim to the backup role behind Darryl Reynolds, and contributes with defense and rebounding in limited minutes - similar to what Reynolds did last season behind Daniel Ochefu (perhaps with less minutes). A positive season gives Jay Wright ample options on the frontline.
Worst Case Scenario: If Painter doesn’t pick up the speed and scheme of the game quickly enough, he likely loses a lot of minutes to Eric Paschall with Jay Wright opting to go small to get his best talent on the floor.
The Wisdom of Crowds Returns
We are pleased to bring back our Wisdom of Crowds experiment for the 2016-2017 season. In this series, we ask that you consider the points covered in our player preview to supplement your own personal insights and instincts to predict the points per game each scholarship player on the roster we score in the upcoming season.