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Big East Basketball: Five rising stars set for a big 2018-19 season

By Brian Foley

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 08: Phil Booth #5 of the Villanova Wildcats drives past Sam Hauser #10 of the Marquette Golden Eagles in the second half during quarterfinals of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 08: Phil Booth #5 of the Villanova Wildcats drives past Sam Hauser #10 of the Marquette Golden Eagles in the second half during quarterfinals of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MARCH 25: Phil Booth #5 of the Villanova Wildcats attempts a lay up against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders 71-59. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 25: Phil Booth #5 of the Villanova Wildcats attempts a lay up against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders 71-59. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

RS SR Phil Booth

2017-18: 18.2 percent usage rate
10 points, 7.4 FG att. (44.1 percent), 2.3 FT att. (80 percent), 1.4 turnovers

Booth has often been the forgotten man on Villanova’s two national championship squads even though he was named to the All-Tournament team in 2016 and started 31 games this past year. But in 2018-19, Booth will be one of the unquestioned leaders for the Wildcats.

Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges are headed to the NBA, with Donte DiVincenzo likely joining them. Those three combined for over 3,700 minutes as primary perimeter playmakers last year; five-star point guard prospect Jahvon Quinerly will step into that role this year, as will Ryan Arcidiacono look-alike Collin Gillespie. But Booth is the most experienced Wildcat on the roster, so he should assume a good portion of the perimeter-scoring load.

As with the other players on this list, Booth is a capable three-point shooter. Now he needs to prove he can also replicate last year’s numbers at the rim, where he shot an impressive 63 percent, with opponents hyper-focused on his scoring output.

Next: Ranking the current statuses of the old Big East teams

Booth has yet to crack 1,000 minutes in a season during his Villanova career, partially due to injuries. If he can stay healthy for a full campaign and dust off the all-around game he displayed in the 2016 National Championship, Jay Wright will once again have another seamless transition at the guard position.

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