NCAA Basketball: 3 recent examples where “one and done” has worked

2018 Villanova Wildcats

The most recent example of a successful one-and-done recruitment took place just two seasons ago when Villanova defeated Michigan for the 2018 national championship. That team was led by the junior guard tandem of Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges and the breakout star of the tournament was sophomore guard Donte DiVincenzo who had 31 points in the title game. But, it was a freshman forward who led the team in rebounding, while adding 10.9 points per game and being a force in the paint for Jay Wright’s Wildcats, swatting 1.5 shots per game, Omari Spellman.

The 6’9 260lb. Spellman was a key cog from the beginning for Villanova, starting 39 of 40 games. Despite the fact that Brunson and Bridges were the focal points of the offense and the offense ran through the two juniors, Spellman showed flashes throughout the year that he could be counted on for offense if he had to be.

He recorded 11 double-doubles on the year, the last of which came in a 15-point, 13-rebound effort in the national semifinal win over Kansas. After winning the title, Spellman would declare for the NBA Draft. He was selected by the Atlanta Hawks and in his first season averaged 5.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in 46 games, while spending the remainder of the time in the G-League.