On Monday night, Ohio State transfer forward Devin Royal announced he is committing to Villanova with one year of eligibility remaining.
Royal, 6-foot-6, 210 pounds, averaged 13.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists, starting in all 32 of Ohio State’s games last season. He shot 47.6% from the field and 31.6% from beyond the arc, averaging 32.5 minutes per contest.
He has spent his entire collegiate career at Ohio State, starting in 59 games while averaging 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds. He averaged 13.7 points per game in both his junior and sophomore seasons. Royal totaled 96 appearances as a Buckeye. During his time at Ohio State, he transitioned from a power forward to a small forward.
Royal was a four-star recruit in the class of 2023 out of Pickerington Central High School. He was named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball in 2023, while averaging 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds as a senior. He earned First Team All-Ohio honors as a junior and senior.
It marked the second transfer portal pickup of the day for Villanova and head coach Kevin Willard. Earlier on Monday, Villanova signed Oregon transfer forward Kwame Evans Jr., who took a visit to campus on Friday, April 10.
Willard is tasked with filling over 10 scholarship spots after starting talent such as freshman starting guard Acaden Lewis and redshirt sophomore starting guard Bryce Lindsay entered the transfer portal. Senior starting forward Duke Brennan and graduate guard Devin Askew both ran out of collegiate eligibility. However, Brennan is making an attempt to earn another year of eligibility and has entered the transfer portal.
While Brennan entered the portal, The Villanovan learned that a return to Villanova is not off the table for Brennan’s side in the very unlikely chance he earns another year.
Currently, only two Wildcats have announced their return to the program – rising senior guard Tyler Perkins and rising redshirt sophomore Matt Hodge.
In February, Hodge tore his ACL in a game against St. John’s. He received successful surgery to repair the ligament days later, and two months later is now off crutches as he rehabilitates in hopes of making an early-season return in 2026.
Villanova is set to host Arkansas transfer guard D.J. Wagner for a visit on Tuesday, April 14. Wagner, a Camden, NJ native, averaged 7.4 points, 2.4 assists and 23.6 minutes in 19 starts last season.
The NCAA Transfer Portal opened on Tuesday, April 7, and will close on Tuesday, April 21. However, athletes do not have to commit to a new school by the April 21 deadline.
