NBA potential on 'Nova roster
There has been some discussion on the NBA potential of a number of guys on the Villanova roster. With Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins testing the waters last spring, Jalen Brunson entering ‘Nova as a highly touted freshman with a NBA pedigree, and Mikal Bridges attracting some attention from NBA scouts, this Villanova roster certainly has some notions of NBA play.
Making the NBA discussion more interesting is the fact that with last season’s National Championship, Villanova has strengthened its position to be included in college basketball’s elite programs. The successes under Jay Wright have firmly placed the ‘Cats in the discussion, and should those successes continue ‘Nova would be able to cement their place in that category. One knock the program takes when the “elite” debates get rolling is the number of NBA products the program produces and/or the success of those products in the best league in the world.
Personally, I think this factor should only be a very small part of the evaluation of an “elite” program. Win/loss records, conference supremacy, NCAA tournament appearances and successes, and ultimately Final Fours and championships should be the bulk of the reasoning, but some critics will try to use the NBA argument nonetheless. With that being said, let’s examine the NBA potential of some of the current Wildcats.
Josh Hart
I think Hart’s NBA chances are pretty good. I believe he would have been drafted had he chosen to enter this past draft. He would be a perfect fit on an established team looking for some contributions off the bench. His ability to do a little bit of everything will be a major asset for him. He plays with energy and is committed on the defensive end, things that are helpful to any basketball team.
With his ability to come off the bench and do whatever is asked of him should allow him to carve out a nice niche for himself. He can score a little, rebound, and be a defensive stalwart. His willingness to do the dirty work will also go a long way to helping him stick in the league.
He can improve his stock with another impressive season, particularly if he demonstrates leadership and can consistently knock down his jump shot.
Mikal Bridges
I am in the camp who believes Bridges is the best NBA prospect on the current Villanova roster. Scouts have taken note of Bridges, particularly because of his 6-7 frame and especially his 7+ foot wingspan. His size and length allow him to be incredibly disruptive on the defensive end of the floor.
Even as a freshman, he showed the ability to contribute in big spots. He had some key contributions in the Elite 8 win over Kansas, and scored in double-figures in the Final Four rout of Oklahoma. He didn’t shrink as the spotlight got brighter.
Bridges NBA future is largely based on potential at this point. He certainly has the size and athleticism, but he will have to show more production and steadiness as his role grows at Villanova. He will have to develop more consistency on his jump shot, especially improving on the just-under 30% clip at which he knocked down his three-point attempts last season. His ball-handling could use some tightening, and he will need to bump up his rebounding numbers as his playing time increases.
Bridges certainly has some on-court work to do, but he is young and has plenty of time to develop his skills where needed. Furthermore, you can’t teach length or pure athleticism, and Bridges is NBA caliber in both of those categories. ‘Nova fans have to be excited about watching this kid develop.
Jalen Brunson
I think Brunson has some work to do to get himself NBA ready. Fortunately, he, like Bridges, has time to develop his game.
The highly-touted freshman showed flashes during his first season at ‘Nova, particularly in games against Temple, Penn, and Creighton. Another player who will be looking at an increased role, Brunson will have plenty of opportunity to duplicate those performances, and if he plays like he did in those games more often than not, his stock will rise.
While showcasing a consistent jump shot and a bump in assists will benefit Brunson, perhaps even more important will be how he handles his increased role. His decision-making and control of the offense will go a long way in eventually earning him a shot on an NBA team.
Kris Jenkins
With one pure stroke, Jenkins shot his way into NCAA lore and into the hearts of Villanova fans forever. His season-long emergence, and in particular his play from mid-February on, was key to ‘Nova’s success and was a pleasure to watch.
He averaged 20.3 points per game from February 17 through the Big East tournament, and then averaged 15.5 points per game during Villanova’s NCAA tournament run. He also hit one of the biggest shots in the history of college basketball. That will certainly get some people’s attention.
Jenkins decided to return for his senior season after testing the NBA waters. If he can duplicate his play from down the stretch last season over the course of his senior campaign, you’d have to think that some NBA team would give him a chance.
Clearly, the long-range shooting is there. Jenkins shoots the ball with as much confidence as anyone, and can obviously hit the clutch one. I think he needs to show a little more dedication to rebounding and perhaps develop a small move to improve his ability to get his own shot, and he could be a defensive liability on the perimeter in the NBA.
Despite the potential shortcomings, we have seen before the NBA take on players strictly on their shooting ability. We have also seen players use their shooting ability to get in to the league and then show enough improvement in other areas to become legitimate full-time players. Kyle Korver entered the league as a great shooter, but was a liability in basically every other area. Korver improved his ball-handling and his defense and became a solid contributor on a decent Hawks team. I could see Jenkins taking a similar route.
Incoming freshman Omari Spellman is another NBA prospect, but I am not going to discuss him now as we have yet to see him play on the collegiate level.
I enjoy Jay Wright’s recruiting strategy and his focus on bringing in players who fit the culture he has built here. It’s nice to get to know these kids a little bit, and to watch them progress on the court over three and four years. The level at which they were playing basketball during the NCAA tournament was an absolute joy to watch, not just as a Villanova fan but as a basketball fan as well. So much of that was predicated on cohesiveness and familiarity, which you just can’t build at a basketball factory school.
That being said, it is certainly fun to root for the ‘Nova kids at the next level, and that success can elevate the perception of the program. In addition, it would take away ammunition from the people who try to use it as a knock on Villanova’s claim as “elite.”
I would certainly love to see more Villanova guys playing in the league and being key contributors, but I wouldn’t sacrifice the culture that coach Wright has built here for it. Ideally, those things don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Regardless, the future is bright for Villanova basketball, and it will be fun to watch as Wright continues to build the program and they continue their march towards elite status.