Villanova Basketball: Top 25 players who have ever played for Jay Wright

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MARCH 24: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats looks on during the first half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 Round at AT&T Center on March 24, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) /

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Jay Wright Villanova Basketball (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

11. Gary Buchanan – Villanova, 2000-2003

Career stats: 14.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.6 APG

Buchanan is Villanova’s all-time leader in career 3-point field goals with 337 and free throw percentage at 91.3%. He was an elite offensive threat from the start, averaging 12.5 points as a freshman and peaking at 17.8 points as a junior in 2001-02. There are two main reasons why he isn’t higher on this list, the first being that he never made the NCAA Tournament. The second reason is that this list is ultimately about Jay Wright and Buchanan only played under Jay Wright for two seasons.

10. Curtis Sumpter – Villanova, 2003-2007

Career stats: 13.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 0.9 APG

Sumpter was effectively a role player as a freshman, but he burst onto the scene over the next two seasons, averaging 14.3 points as a sophomore and 15.3 points as a junior in 2004-05. As a junior, he helped lead Villanova to the Sweet 16 alongside Randy Foye and Allan Ray, a trio that averaged 47.0 points per game combined. Sumpter missed the 2005-06 season with a knee injury, but averaged 17.4 points and earned first-team All-Big East honors as a senior in 2006-07.

9. Speedy Claxton – Hofstra, 1997-2000

Career stats: 16.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.4 APG

Claxton was a star from the moment he set foot on campus at Hofstra, averaging 15.0 points as a freshman and winning America East Player of the Year as a sophomore and senior. His senior season also saw him average 22.8 points and lead the Pride to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1977.