After a second-round loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, we must bid farewell to seniors Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins and Darryl Reynolds. Their contributions over the past four years have been invaluable and they will sorely be missed, and their legacy as National Champions will live on forever.

The departure of the seniors brings an incoming freshman class eager for the opportunity to showcase their talents. The Wildcat’s three new members of the Class of 2021 are Jermaine Samuels, Dhamir “Da-Da” Cosby-Roundtree and Collin Gillespie. 

Samuels is one of the most highly touted prospects in the nation and is considered a top 50 player by multiple recruiting sites. The 6’6” SF from Franklin, MA brings with him an incredible combination of athleticism, agility and versatility.

During his time at the Rivers School, Samuels excelled on the court and gained the attention of NCAA coaches throughout the country. As a result, he received a variety of offers from D1 institutions such as Kansas, Indiana and Duke, yet ultimately decided that Villanova is the right place for him. Although he is an incoming freshman, the Wildcats look forward to utilizing his talents come next season.

Cosby-Roundtree is a 6’9” PF/C from the city of brotherly love. He attended the Neumann-Goretti High School and is considered a top 100 player in this year’s recruiting class. Similarly to Samuels, Cosby-Roundtree received interested from other schools including Syracuse, Providence and Big 5 rivals La Salle, Saint Joseph’s and Temple.

Cosby-Roundtree is a tough player who stands out on the defensive side of the ball and runs the floor well. His offensive side of the game is considered by analysts to be “raw” yet full of potential. With the loss of Darryl Reynolds to graduation, Cosby-Roundtree provides much needed height to the table for the ‘Cats.

Gillespie was the final Wildcat to sign his letter of intent. Standing at 6’2”, the PG from Warminster, PA attended Archbishop Wood High School and gained a lot of attention throughout his spectacular senior season.

Gillespie is considered a pass-first, team-oriented point guard who draws comparisons to former Wildcat Ryan Arcidiacono due to his smaller size and hustle on the court.

During his senior season, Gillespie saw his recruitment stock skyrocket as a result of his play down the stretch. He won the player of the year award in the Philadelphia Catholic League and led Archbishop Wood to both the PCL and State Championship.

Besides the addition of three new members of the Nova Nation, the Wildcats also look forward to having both Omari Spellman and Phil Booth on the court next season. The future of Villanova Basketball is bright as the 2017-2018 Wildcats look forward to continued success.