ANGELO BRIZZI 

(#117 Ranking)

Warrenton,VA, Highland HS, Point Guard, 6’3”, 170lbs, 3 Stars

Other Notable Offers: Arizona, California, LSU, Virginia

Brizzi, who verbally committed to Villanova on May 9, 2020, is generally regarded as one of the most refined and elite point guards in the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) area. He selected Villanova over Big East rivals Marquette and Georgetown, as well as several ACC powerhouses in North Carolina, Virginia and Virginia Tech. He has a diverse array of weapons yet is most known from his passing game. He has the ability to be creative on the spot in transition, creating shooting opportunities and post up concepts for other players in quick fashion. 

The obvious point on everyone’s mind is the point guard spot at Villanova. This year, roster star Collin Gillespie will be a senior, his last season in a Villanova uniform. Once he is gone, the role of the floor general will be up for grabs.

Two names come to mind. First is Caleb Daniels, who was a very exciting transfer student from Tulane and led their team in scoring (16.9) and steals (0.8) per game. However, Daniels takes on more of the role of a shooting guard who can spot up around the floor. The next name that comes to mind is Chris Arcidiacono, who does not have the same overall skill level as Brizzi. This points back to Brizzi taking over the role as the moral leader of the team who can hold the floor together and make the big calls when necessary. 

JORDAN LONGINO 

(#58 Ranking)

Fort Washington, PA, Germantown Academy, Shooting Guard, 6’5”, 195lbs, 4 Stars

Other Notable Offers: Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia 

Longino is an exciting addition to the Villanova roster, hailing from just a 20 minute drive from campus. He is one of Pennsylvania’s prize shooting guards, both for Germantown Academy and AAU club Philly Pride. He is known nationwide for his ability to be a spot up shooter, being elusive in pick and roll situations for his size and utilize his layup steps efficiently to draw fouls against small guards. The four-star recruit received offers from Philly rivals Temple and La Salle, as well as several major Big Ten Conference programs such as Indiana, Maryland and Penn State.

Longino’s game may best be used against shorter opponents who choose to play small ball systems. With a big man like Cole Swider to space the floor with his own shooting abilities, Longino can have the paint cleared up for him to drive in against smaller guards, expanding beyond just his shooting ability. 

If that does not come to terms, he will always have the ability to shoot over small guards in regular line ups off of pick and roll switches, being able to knock down threes effectively and without rushing. 

NNANNA NJOKU 

(#81 Ranking)

Hockessin, DE, Sanford HS, Center, 6’9”, 245 lbs, 4 Stars

Other Notable Offers: Miami, NC State, Pittsburgh

Simply put, Nnanna Njoku is the best player in the state of Delaware. He is consistently ranked in the top 100 high school players in the country on ESPN and 247Sports. 

He is entering his senior year of high school, but Njoku already has the body of a college player and is clearly on track to building it to a professional level. This will allow him to have dominant paint play around the basket and will create opportunities for box outs. 

He can use his frame to be explosive under the rim, as he has shown to have a diverse skill set in that area by being able to play behind zone defenses and feel comfortable in one-on-one situations. Njoku was heavily scouted, receiving offers from other Big East and ACC powerhouses. 

Jermaine Samuels and Dhamir Cosby Roundtree are both seniors this year, and they are the two foundational big men for the team. Their absence next year will allow Njoku to be the brawn of the bench mob behind Robinson-Earl, who is the projected starting center for the years to come. Once Robinson-Earl ends his time at Villanova, Njoku will have developed his body to an even further extent to play a similar role on the team as Golden State Warriors Player and Villanova men’s basketball alumni Eric Paschall.

TREY PATTERSON 

(#27 Ranking)

Somerset, NJ, Rutgers Prep, Power Forward, 6’7”, 195lbs,  4 Stars

Other Notable Offers: Florida, Indiana, Maryland 

Trey Patterson is by far the most highly regarded recruit for the Class of 2021. He is consistently ranked within the top 30 high school players in the country and sometimes scrapes his way into being a top five power forward. He is a four-star recruit, but there is a strong argument that could be made for his placement into the elite five-star category.

Patterson is a full package wing player. He is athletic and productive in transition and consistantly shoots. He plays with aggressive energy and will bring a high level of ferocity to the team. Patterson received offers from 24 schools. 

Other than Cole Swider, the wing spot on the team is an open field. In terms of big men, the paint will be predominantly utilized by fellow freshman Nkoju. Patterson could be utilized well in a big-ball line up, with hypotheticals such as having both Njoku and Patterson in the game and having someone like Bryan Antoine or Justin Moore run the point guard position. 

This will put Patterson in the best possible position to score effectively and consistently. However, even in normal lineups, Patterson will still have the explosiveness down low to score against opponents more similar in size, especially in pick and roll situations that go with the slower pace that Jay Wright and Villanova basketball likes to play.