NCAA Basketball: Biggest takeaways from the 2019 recruiting classes
By Brian Rauf
6) Don’t sleep on Villanova
The Wildcats are rarely in the discussion when it comes to the best and most impactful recruiting classes this cycle, but they should be. It is a top-five class, for crying out loud!
Five-stars Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Bryan Antoine, both McDonald’s All-Americans, highlight this talented group and fill needs for Jay Wright’s squad. Robinson-Earl, a 6-8 power forward with good mid-range touch and high basketball IQ, could fill the role left by Eric Paschall. Antoine, an athletic 6-5 guard with great shooting ability, is expected to step in for the departed Phil Booth (a shoulder injury could complicate things for Antoine, but he’s expected to be healthy for the start of the season).
Those two players should become stars, and a pair of top-70 prospects in Justin Moore (No. 55) and Eric Dixon (No. 68) should have prominent roles off the bench as well. All four players are smart, versatile, and can score at a very high level, making them perfect fits for Villanova’s system.
Like Virginia, Villanova is transition cores from a successful, championship-winning one. With this group joining the likes of last year’s impactful freshmen like Saddiq Bey and Cole Swider, this core will make the Wildcats national title contenders again – especially if Robinson-Earl and Antoine become the stars they’re expected to be.