Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Wildcats players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Jalen Brunson (30 points), Darrun Hilliard (18 points), and Josh Hart (26 points).
#1. Jalen Brunson, a 6'1'' guard who graduated from Villanova in 2018 and received the USBWA All-District II Player of the Year award that same year, currently plays professionally in the NBA. Recently, he showcased his talent by leading the New York Knicks to a decisive 121-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Brunson being named the MVP of the game. His remarkable performance included scoring an impressive 30 points and providing 6 assists in 42 minutes of play. This victory marked the Knicks' fifth consecutive win, contributing to their 54-29 record this season. Having spent four years with the team, Brunson continues to excel on the court, displaying exceptional skills and leadership. His stellar performance against Cleveland, where he not only scored 30 points but also secured 3 rebounds and distributed 6 assists, further solidified his reputation as a champion. Throughout the season, Brunson has maintained high statistics, averaging 26.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in the 89 games he has played so far. His consistent contributions and impressive gameplay highlight his prowess as a true champion and finalist in the league.
#2. Experienced Darrun Hilliard, a 6'6'' shooting guard and 33-year-old Wildcats alumni from the class of 2015, played a crucial role in Surne Bilbao Basket's recent victory against the 12th-ranked Basquet Girona in the Spanish Liga Endesa. His impressive performance helped secure an 86-80 win, with Hilliard contributing 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 25 minutes of play. Surne Bilbao Basket, currently ranked seventh in the league with a record of 19-15, has only one more game left in the Regular Season, making it a crucial match. Hilliard's consistent contributions throughout the season, averaging 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in 32 appearances, have been instrumental in his team's success. Hilliard's standout display against Girona highlighted his skills and determination as a champion. His scoring prowess, rebounding ability, and playmaking skills were on full display, reaffirming his status as a finalist who can make a significant impact on the court.
#3. Josh Hart, a 6'5'' guard who graduated from Villanova in 2017 and received the All-Big East All-Tournament MVP award that year, is currently playing professionally in the NBA. He is a teammate of Jalen Brunson and recently showcased his skills in a game where he led the New York Knicks to a resounding victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers with a score of 109-93. In this game, Hart was named the MVP as he contributed significantly to the win by scoring an impressive 26 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists in just 34 minutes of play. This outstanding performance helped the New York Knicks secure their fifth consecutive victory, despite their somewhat weak 54-29 record for the season. Throughout the season, Hart has been excelling individually, averaging 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in the 81 games he has played. His remarkable skills and contributions on the court truly highlight why he is a champion.
#4. Mikal Bridges, a 6'6'' guard/forward and a 29-year-old alumni of the Wildcats class of 2018, currently showcases his talents in the NBA alongside his teammate, the aforementioned Jalen Brunson. Recently, both players shared the court in the last NBA game, demonstrating their teamwork and chemistry. In a recent matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bridges played a pivotal role in the New York Knicks' triumph with a final score of 121-108. He exhibited his skills by scoring 22 points, securing 6 rebounds, and contributing 2 blocks during the intense 40-minute game. This remarkable performance further solidified his reputation as a champion on the court. Throughout the season, Bridges has consistently delivered impressive stats, averaging 14.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game across 97 appearances. His exceptional contributions and stellar playmaking abilities have undoubtedly contributed to his status as a finalist in the league.
#5. Joe Cremo, a 6'4'' guard who graduated from Villanova in 2019, played a vital role in helping his team win the Big East Regular Season Championship that year. Currently, he is showcasing his skills as a professional player in Spain. In a recent game, despite his commendable performance, Cremo could not prevent Coruna from suffering a narrow 85-82 defeat on the road against the lower-ranked Menorca, who held the eighth position. Despite the loss, Cremo stood out as the top scorer of the game with 19 points and also contributed 3 assists in 31 minutes of play. Throughout the season, Cremo has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in 36 appearances. His consistent performance on the court demonstrates his value as a player, even in challenging situations like the recent game against Menorca.
#6. Omari Spellman, a 6'9'' power forward and 28-year-old Wildcats alum from 2018, is currently playing professionally in China. Despite his efforts in the last game, he could not help his team, Shougang Beijing Ducks (29-13), secure a victory. In a tough match against the leading Sharks in Shanghai, the Beijing Ducks suffered a 85-99 loss. Spellman delivered a strong performance by scoring 14 points in just 21 minutes, making him the second-highest scorer for his team. In the game against Shanghai Sharks, Spellman showcased his skills by contributing 14 points and grabbing 1 rebound. However, despite his impressive performance, the Beijing Ducks were unable to secure a win. Throughout this season, Spellman has been averaging 9.7 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game across 43 games. It is worth noting that Omari Spellman, a naturalized American, continues to demonstrate his talent and dedication on the court as he aims to lead his team to success as a champion or finalist in the league.
#7. Jermaine Samuels Jr., a 6'7'' forward who graduated from Villanova in 2022 after helping them secure the Big East Regular Season Champion title that year, now plays professionally in Spain. In a recent game for Longevida San Pablo Burgos against Joventut in the Spanish Liga Endesa, Samuels Jr. showcased his skills by scoring 7 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and providing 1 assist in just 14 minutes of play. Despite his solid performance, his team ended up losing 79-86 to Joventut. Throughout the current season, Samuels Jr. has been maintaining impressive averages of 10.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game across 33 games.
Other former Villanova University players, who play in pro basketball:
Cole Swider (6'9''-PF-1999, played in 2018-21) plays for Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Turkish BSL
Jhamir Brickus (5'11''-PG, played in 2024-25) plays for Nymburk in Czech Republic NBL
Saddiq Bey (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2018-20) plays for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA
Kyle Lowry (6'0''-PG-1986, played in 2004-06) plays for Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA
Donte DiVincenzo (6'5''-SG-1997, played in 2015-18) plays for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
Cam Whitmore (6'7''-F-2004) plays for Washington Wizards in the NBA
Tyler Burton (5'9''-G-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA
Collin Gillespie (6'2''-G-1999, played in 2017-22) plays for Phoenix Suns in the NBA
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2019-21) plays for Dallas Mavericks in the NBA
Phil Booth (6'3''-SG-1995, played in 2014-16) played for JDA Dijon Bourgogne in French Betclic ELITE ProA few monts ago
Antonio Pena (6'9''-F-1986, played in 2006-11) played for Reales in Dominican Rep. LNB last year
Ryan Arcidiacono (6'3''-G-1994, played in 2012-16) plays for Osos de Manati in Puerto Rican BSN
Enoch Boakye (6'11''-F-2003, played in 2024-25) plays for Val-Dieu Spirou Basket Charleroi in Belgian Pro Basketball League
Wooga Poplar (6'5''-G-2003, played in 2024-25) plays for Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League
Mark Armstrong (6'2''-G-2004, played in 2022-24) plays for Texas Legends in the NBA G League
James Bell (6'5''-SF-1992, played in 2010-14) plays for Pass lab Yamagata Wyverns in Japanese B2 League
Jordan Longino (6'5''-G-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Kormend in Hungarian A Division
Daniel Ochefu (6'11''-F/C-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Blackwater Bossing in Filipino PBA
Brandon Slater (6'8''-F-1999, played in 2024-24) plays for Knox Raiders in Australian NBL One
Eric Paschall (6'6''-F-1996, played in 2015-15) plays for Hubei in Chinese NBL
Chris Arcidiacono (6'4''-G-2000, played in 2019-24) played for Melbourne Tigers in Australian NBL One last year
Caleb Daniels (6'4''-G-1999, played in 2024-24) played for Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Summer League last year
Justin Moore (6'4''-PG-2000, played in 2019-24) played for Wisconsin Herd in the NBA G League last year
Hakim Hart (6'8''-G-2001, played in 2023-24) played for Astros de Jalisco in Mexican CIBACOPA last year
Eric Dixon (6'8''-F-2001, played in 2019-25) plays for Memphis Hustle in the NBA G League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Villanova University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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