Spellman could turn out to be ’Nova’s X-factor
RADNOR, PA. » The Final Four is purely a business trip for Villanova freshman center Omari Spellman.
Enjoying the week sounds great. But the reality is you don’t want to have too much fun and suffer the consequences.
“Winning’s fun,” Spellman said. “You don’t really want to get to the Final Four and leave there without winning. You’ve got to be prepared to go in there and handle business because you have to get a win.”
There’s another reason for Spellman to make the most of his Final Four opportunity. It’s not unusual for talented underclassmen like Spellman (6-9 1/2, 245) to start thinking about where they might come off the board in the NBA draft.
Spellman, a redshirt freshman, has until April 22 to apply for the June 21st draft. That would make him eligible to attend the Pro Basketball Combine at IMG Academy in Florida that runs from May 16 through 20.
If Spellman learned he wouldn’t be drafted in the first round, or at all, he’d have 10 days to pull out to maintain his NCAA playing eligibility, unless he hires an agent. Villanova players Kris Jenkins and Josh Hart gave the pre-draft process a whirl after the 2016 championship season, only to return to school.
Spellman wouldn’t rule out following that path. There were rumblings during the recent East Regional, where Spellman averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots, and shot 6 of 11 from three-point range that he could give it a look.
“I haven’t really thought too much about it,” Spellman said. “I’m just focused on my teammates and coaches right now, regardless of if we get to it, and if it ever comes. I’m really just focused on trying to get a win against Kansas.”
That’s also a pretty good idea. The Wildcats oppose the Jayhawks Saturday (8:50 p.m.) at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Kansas has big men Udoka Azubuike (7-0, 280) and Silvio De Sousa (6-9, 245), among others.
The Wildcats could use another effort from Spellman similar to the one he dropped on 6-9 West Virginia enforcer Sagaba Konate. Konate was terrorizing the Wildcats inside the lane until Spellman got in his face in the second half. Both were assessed technical fouls and separated before there was any rougher stuff.
Spellman’s draft stock almost certainly shot up during the East Region.
“He’s been coming on the last month and a half of the season,” Nova guard Phil Booth said. “His defensive progress has been amazing. Offensively, we all knew what we had. We weren’t surprised by that at all. He’s a great shooter. He can get to the rim. He’s very athletic. But defensively, blocking shots and rebounding is where he’s really taken off. That makes us a lot better team. When you have a guy like that who rebounds and blocks shots at the other end, that’s a very tough matchup.
So, he’s done a lot for us.” The Wildcats are 5 1/2-point favorites over the Jayhawks, who have ridden the hot hand of Malik Newman. The sophomore guard scored all 13 of his team’s overtime points, and a career-high 32 in all, in an 85-81 win over Duke to reach the Final Four. Newman is another candidate who could declare for the draft.
Beyond Spellman, Nova’s Jalen Brunson likely will declare for the draft as he’s all but completed work on his degree. He’s a junior.
Booth, rounding back into shape after injuries, probably won’t take the test ride to gauge his value to the NBA.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m coming back,” Booth said. “My hand is fine. It’s just finding the rhythm of being back in the game, the rhythm of playing. Missing four weeks sets you back a little bit. So just getting that back is what I’m trying to do. I feel it’s definitely coming. I really don’t worry about shots going in. I can still play on the defensive end.”
The Wildcats average 86.6 points, the most of any team in the Final Four. At some point defense typically proves to be the difference, not destiny.