Small forward Trey Patterson, ESPN’s 26th ranked prospect for the 2021 class, committed to Villanova on Thursday over both Indiana and Florida. Patterson, from Somerset, NJ, is a top five small forward in his recruiting class.

The 6-8 wing out of Rutgers Prep shined during his last high school season, averaging 19.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists while leading his team to a 27-2 record. Patterson also helped Rutgers Prep clinch their first Somerset County Tournament title since 1983.

The Wildcats add even more depth at the forward position with this commitment; Patterson is an excellent two-way player and a solid shooter from deep, a perfect fit for Villanova’s brand of basketball over the last decade, a style which has led to two national championships in the past five years. Patterson’s skill set and play style is reminiscent of recent Villanova forwards Mikal Bridges and Saddiq Bey, both of whom won Julius Erving awards for being the best small forward in the nation in 2018 and 2020, respectively. 

With Patterson’s commitment, paired with the commitment of four-star recruit Nnanna Njoku earlier in the year, the Wildcats are already set up with a top-three recruiting class for 2021, not to mention the No. 1 ranked preseason team for this upcoming season. Villanova Men’s basketball is shaping up to have many bright years ahead in the near future.