Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
An eventful draft night looms for Villanova
RADNOR » In its history, Villanova has had 12 players selected in the firstround of the NBA Draft, the most being two when Randy Foye and Kyle Lowry went seventh and 24th, respectively, in 2006.
It all likelihood, that will change Thursday night. The Wildcats could have three and possibly four players from the national championship team selected in the first round when the draft gets under way at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
“It’s a rare experience for us and it just shows that you’ve got four really talented guys and that’s why we won because we had four really talented guys who are good guys,” Wright said. “And I think teams see they have the potential to grow, have the potential to be good teammates so there’s no secret to why we won last year.”
All-American swingman Mikal Bridges is sure to go early. The Most Outstanding Player of the Big East Tournament is a projected lottery pick.
Guard Donte DiVincenzo also is one of the 20 players who have been invited to be in the green room for the draft. That’s a pretty good indication that the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four will be taken in the first round.
Depending on which mock draft you believe, guard Jalen Brunson, the consensus national Player of the Year, and forward Omari Spellman, could go in the opening round, too. Both are projected to go late in the first or early in the second round. If all four go in the first round it would be the most by one school since Kentucky had four players selected in the 2015 first round. The Bluegrass Wildcats also had four first-round selections in 2012 and five in 2010.
“It’s exciting,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said. “There’s a lot of anticipation. You know there are a lot of moving parts. I’m excited.”
Wright and his staff will be in the green room, too, which really isn’t a room as much as a cordoned off area in front of the main stage where the players and their families wait to hear their names called. It’s Wright’s first trip to the draft since Foye and Lowry were selected 12 years ago.
Since it’s been so long since Wright has been to the draft did he call Kentucky’s John Calipari, a regular at the draft, for any green room advice?
“John would be the expert,” Wright said with a laugh. “I think I’m going to try to keep a low profile. Donte’s got invited now so our assistants will be up there with Donte. He invited those guys so we’ll all be there. I think it’s time to be all low-profile and let these guys have their day.”
Wright and his staff have been deeply involved in the entire draft process, which began shortly after the Wildcats won their second national title in three years.
“Donte and Omari didn’t have agents so we had to set those up,” Wright said “Our staff did a great job. Kyle Neptune, Arlesha (Davidson), George (Halcovage) and Mike (Nardi), they were setting up the trips and when they wanted to change teams. It was a lot of work for them. Jalen and Mikal at least had agents setting that up, but we still got the calls after every one. The staff handled that. It was a lot of work for our staff, but its enjoyable work. It’s all good stuff. You’re helping guys with their next step.”
It many ways, it’s like a parent watching his or her child leave the nest.
“That’s what it is,” Wright said “… And it’s really rewarding to see how they leave. There’s no secret, Omari’s the youngest. You worry about your youngest the most. Jalen and Mikal are the oldest and you’re very secure in what they are. And Donte is a mature guy, too. We’re very proud of the type of men they are leaving, how they’ve developed as players and really confident that they’re going to be successful at the next level.”
Bridges believes one reason he, Brunson, DiVincenzo and Spellman are ready to make the jump to the next level is Villanova’s style of play, which is similar to the game being played in the NBA. The Wildcats relied on defense and 3-point shooting to claim their second national title in three seasons. Villanova set the NCAA record for 3-pointers made in a season (464). Bridges, Brunson, DiVincenzo and Spellman all shot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc.
“Playing at Villanova and having Coach Wright prepared us for this moment,” Bridges said after he worked out for the Sixers last week. “… That’s why Josh (Hart) did so well his rookie year (with the Los Angeles Lakers). Villanova prepares you for that.”
“We just really try to prepare them to be the best players they can be and the best men they can be,” Wright said. “If they’re the best players and be the best men, if they have the talent, which these guys do, they’re going to be good NBA players. They have to have the talent first and then we just try to make them the best they can be.”
That preparation took years and comes to a head Thursday night when Bridges, Brunson, DiVincenzo and Spellman learn what their future holds. Wright called it the craziest offseason he’s ever had, but a rewarding one for everyone involved, especially the players.
“I feel like they’re all in a really good spot,” Wright said. “Omari, being the youngest, is the guy that probably you want to make sure he continues to mature in the right way. The other guys are pretty mature. I think they’re in good positions, not just to be drafted, but to have good careers.”