Villanova Basketball: Omari Spellman is Big East’s best freshman
The Villanova Wildcats have the best freshman in the Big East, Omari Spellman. How has he impacted the Wildcats in his first eligible season?
The Villanova Wildcats have sprinted out to a 19-1 record and currently sit atop almost every poll or ranking. They have a pressure defense loaded with pesky on-ball defenders and the versatility to make all types of players uncomfortable, but it is their offense which has separated them from the competition.
Villanova has the top-ranked offense according to KenPom. They move the ball extremely well and their six main contributors can all shoot from the perimeter which makes this offense incredibly dangerous. One of the main offensive advantages that Villanova experiences is at the center position, where freshman Omari Spellman has stood out.
Spellman joined the team last season as part of the Class of 2016 but was ruled ineligible. Senior Darryl Reynolds took over most of the center minutes, and, while he brought strong defense, rebounding, and experience, Villanova could have used Spellman’s offensive skill.
At 6’9’’, Spellman is a bit undersized for a center, but he has a diverse scoring skill set that will intrigue NBA scouts. He has a fluid outside shot which makes him valuable as a floor spacer and in the pick-and-pop. Spellman is shooting 41.7% from deep on 25 makes which is incredible for a freshman big man.
The talented freshman can play with his back to the basket where he uses his soft touch and big body to score inside. He can also face up in the post and hit a mid-range jumper over his defender. Spellman is an absolute matchup nightmare and is averaging 10.5ppg, 7.5rpg, and 1.5bpg in just over 26 minutes per contest.
Spellman’s rebounding has also been a pleasant surprise as his 21.2% defensive rebounding percentage is No. 177 in the country and his 11.3% offensive rebounding percentage ranks No. 130 in the country. These rebounding numbers are higher than Reynolds’ numbers last year, and he primarily focused on defense and rebounding.
While Spellman does not have the same NBA upside as the top freshmen big men (Ayton, Bagley, Jackson, Bamba, etc), he will be an elite college player and will be drafted whenever he decides to leave Villanova. I think he is a fringe first rounder in this draft, but he could absolutely crack the first round in 2019. Spellman is not a great athlete, but his skill level and length will definitely pique the interest of NBA teams.
Despite his offensive ability, Spellman is only fourth on Villanova in usage rate. This speaks more of Villanova’s loaded roster than of Spellman’s ability as a go-to guy. It is hard to argue with giving star players like Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges more shots, but expect Spellman to see a few more touches with Phil Booth sidelined.
In terms of the Freshman of the Year race, Spellman has the award locked up. Not only was he ranked significantly higher than the other freshmen in the recruiting rankings, but he has also proven to be superior on the court and in the box score. Spellman is the only Big East freshman to average double figures and is doing so on the best team in the country.
I’m not saying that this Big East freshman class lacks talent, in fact, there are many freshmen that will be standout players in the near future. Xavier’s Naji Marshall and Creighton’s Mitch Ballock are probably the next best freshmen in the conference and will be given much bigger roles next season. Georgetown’s Jahvon Blair has been the biggest surprise and Marquette’s Greg Elliot is an interesting long-term sleeper. Spellman’s teammate Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree has also been solid in his debut season, but no other Big East freshman can compare to Spellman.
With Brunson and Bridges most likely headed to the NBA, Spellman could really breakout as a sophomore. He will be on the short list for Big East Player of the Year next season and for this season he is the unquestioned Freshman of the Year.