Big East Basketball: Analyzing each program’s 2019 recruiting class

Villanova is the powerhouse of the Big East. Under the leadership of head coach Jay Wright, the program is not only the best on the court but also the best on the recruiting trail. That much was evident over this past year. Despite the fact that the Wildcats had to wave goodbye to Eric Paschall and Phil Booth this offseason, it appears as though the team got better heading into 2019-20. This is due to the fact that Villanova’s incoming 2019 recruiting class was ranked at No. 5 in the nation.

The headlining duo of this class is Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (No. 16) and Bryan Antoine (No. 17). Robinson-Earl is a 6-foot-8 forward who was a consistent performer across all major events over the past year. He is a dynamic all-around player that could emerge as the star for Villanova right away as a freshman. JRE is the total package and should start in the frontcourt right away.

Bryan Antoine is another highly-rated recruit that could see major minutes…if he is healthy. The 6-foot-4 guard underwent shoulder surgery in late May and it is hard to predict exactly when he will see the floor. When he is 100% ready to take the floor, Antoine should immediately join the starting lineup. He is simply hardwired to score from anywhere on the court and could be the team’s top offensive option right away.

If he is forced to miss time, it is likely that fellow 2019 commit Justin Moore will crack the starting lineup. Moore was ranked as the No. 57 overall prospect in the class as a 6-foot-4 shooting guard with a college-ready body. He is a strong wing that locks in on the defensive end and scores around the rim with consistency. He is a glue-guy on the wing. Moore will see plenty of minutes even if Antoine is healthy from the opening tip this season.

Eric Dixon (No. 71) is another top 100 recruit in this class that will compete for minutes even in Villanova’s crammed frontcourt. He will have a tough time beating out the likes of Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, Brandon Slater, and Cole Swider for a reserve role in that frontcourt but Dixon is a matchup nightmare. He is a 6-foot-7, 250-pound monster at the power forward slot with a bruising mentality and soft finishing. He has a sensational wingspan and should be an impact player in the paint on both ends.

The last commit in this class is 6-foot-3 point guard Chris Arcidiacono (No. 478 by 247Sports). Although not highly-rated, Arcidiacono could be thrust into an immediate reserve role in the backcourt due to Villanova’s lack of true guard depth. It is more likely, though, that he will see limited minutes this season as he continues to develop his game.

That concludes this look at the incoming 2019 recruiting class for Big East basketball. There are bound to be plenty of future stars in this group and it will be interesting to watch each of them develop over the years.