Villanova Basketball: How will Donte DiVincenzo fit with the Milwaukee Bucks?

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Donte DiVincenzo poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 17th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: DiVincenzo poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 17th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2018 NBA Draft. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

With the No. 17 pick in the NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Villanova basketball’s Donte DiVincenzo. How will he fit with his new team?

With the No. 17 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo. Formerly of Villanova basketball, you may remember DiVincenzo for his heroics in the 2018 NCAA National Championship. The electric guard dropped in 31 points in that game en route of cutting down the nets being awarded the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four award. However, DiVincenzo is much more than just a “one game wonder.” He is a legitimate first-round talent with a skill set that should fit right in at the next level.

He did, however, take a different path to the NBA compared to most of his peers selected in the first round. For starters, he was forced to medically redshirt during his first year on campus due to a fractured metatarsal bone in his right foot after just eight games. Villanova went on to win the national championship without him but, as you know, he was still able to play a vital role in another title for the Wildcats.

As a redshirt freshman in 2016-17, DiVincenzo started just one game (out of 36) for the Wildcats while becoming known as an electric sixth man. His legend at Villanova truly began at the beginning of this season with his magical tip-in to take down Virginia at the buzzer. Over the course of the season, DiVincenzo played 25.5 minutes per game and averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. He was fifth on the team in scoring behind Josh Hart (now with the Lakers), Jalen Brunson (drafted by the Mavericks, Kris Jenkins (playing in the NAPB), and Mikal Bridges (drafted by the 76ers, traded to the Suns). Obviously, that team was oozing NBA talent so being just the fifth-leading scorer as a redshirt freshman is nothing to look down at.

As a sophomore this past season, DiVincenzo reprised his role as the sixth man for Villanova. However, don’t get things twisted. The under-the-radar guard played 29.3 minutes per game, the fourth-highest on the team. Remember, it is much more important to be the one in the game during crunch time than the one in the starting lineup. For the season, DiVincenzo averaged 13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. He finished third on the team in scoring behind Jalen Brunson, who was the National Player of the Year, and Mikal Bridges, who was a lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft. That season then culminated in his massive performance on the biggest stage in college sports as Villanova basketball wound up cutting down the nets.

Now that his college career for Villanova basketball is over, let’s take a peek at what may come in the future. This article will break down DiVincenzo’s strengths, weaknesses, and his fit with the Milwaukee Bucks.