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NCAA Basketball: Predicting best player from top 2021 recruiting classes

Mar 21, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Cade Cunningham (2) yells from the sidelines during the second half in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament against the Oregon State Beavers at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Cade Cunningham (2) yells from the sidelines during the second half in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament against the Oregon State Beavers at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball Villanova Wildcats Collin Gillespie David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball Villanova Wildcats Collin Gillespie David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 20: Villanova Wildcats

Recruiting Class: Jordan Longino, Nnanna Njoku, and Angelo Brizzi

Villanova’s season did not end in an ideal manner with an injury to star guard Collin Gillespie forcing inexperienced backup Chris Arcidiacano to lead the Wildcats. However, the live game reps will help Jay Wright’s team this season. As one of the highest projected preseason teams to benefit from the NCAA’s COVID eligibility ruling, the return of Gillespie and Co. leaves little holes to fill on this roster.

Securing another top-20 class under Coach Wright, Villanova is bringing in players that can provide versatile depth to a roster strong across the board with forward Nnanna Njoku and guards Jordan Longino and Angelo Brizzi.

While the Wildcats production has been dominated by the backcourt, the biggest losses from this team last season occurred in the frontcourt. Cole Swider’s decision to transfer to Syracuse and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl’s departure for the NBA Draft leaves question marks about where reliable production will come from.

This gap in the depth chart leaves an immediate opportunity for Njoku to compete for a starting spot as soon as he steps on campus. Wright has already had a year to develop Eric Dixon and the likely battle between the two forwards will be interesting to watch. However, a smaller area of depth provides less concern for Njoku, relative to Brizzi and Longino, that the minutes and production will fall his way in year 1.

Prediction: Nnanna Njoku