As we continue our slog through the summer months, eagerly anticipating seeing the team back on the court and waiting for news from the recruiting trail, let’s take a look back at Jay Wright’s recruiting history and his classes’ contributions to the program. We’ll start with the class of 2002.

Randy Foye, Allan Ray, Jason Fraser, Curtis Sumpter, Baker Dunleavy, Mike Claxton

4-year record: 85-46, 1 Sweet 16, 1 Elite 8

Randy Foye

Foye became the best player in the class. He averaged 15 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in his four years at Villanova. He was the Big East Player of the Year in 2006, as well as a First-Team All-American. He became a first-round draft pick (7th overall) and as carved out a solid NBA career that will enter its 11th year in the upcoming season. His 1,966 points are good for 8th on the school’s all-time scoring list. Foye always came up big in the biggest games, and he is a Villanova legend.

Allan Ray

Ray was an incredible player in his own right. He averaged 15.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2 assists over four years. He earned Second-Team All-American honors in 2006. Ray played one season in the NBA and has had a solid career overseas, where he has averaged 13 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over eight seasons. He scored 2,025 points in his Villanova career, good for 6th in school history. Ray endeared himself to ‘Nova fans not only with his talent but with his toughness, which was on full display when he missed only a week after suffering a gruesome eye injury in the Big East Tournament in 2006. In his first game back, he led the team in scoring. Ray was an excellent basketball player, one who gets overlooked a bit, particularly outside of Villanova circles.

Jason Fraser

Fraser was the most touted player in this impressive class, who was unfortunately held back by injuries that will always leave ‘Nova Nation wondering “what if.” Despite the injuries, which required seven surgeries, he averaged 5.9 points and 5.8 rebounds over his four-year career, and is 5th in school history in blocked shots. His dedication and determination were an inspiration.

Fraser had stints overseas as well as with the Harlem Globetrotters. In 2013 he returned to Villanova as Director of Student Athlete Development, and he now works with the Phoenix Suns as Player Development coach.

Curtis Sumpter

Sumpter had a fine career at ‘Nova, averaging 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds in four seasons. He is top-20 in school history in both categories. A torn ACL caused him to miss the 2005-06 season, and his absence is one that will always have Villanova fans wondering if that season could have ended differently. While missing him in 05-06 was tough to swallow, it did allow him to return in 06-07, a season in which he averaged 17.4 points and 7.2 rebounds, and more importantly, made him an integral part of senior leadership that could mentor young players like Scottie Reynolds, Reggie Redding, Shane Clark, Dwayne Anderson, and Dante Cunningham, a group who would eventually mature and lead Villanova back to the Final Four.

Sumpter also had a stint playing professionally overseas, and represented the United States in the Pan American Games in 2011. Like Fraser, he returned to campus to take a Student Athlete development position, and is now a Player Development Assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Baker Dunleavy

Dunleavy’s on-court contributions were limited, but in his time on the team he developed into an excellent leader. After working for Merrill Lynch, he returned to Villanova as an assistant coach. He was elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2013 and currently finds his stock rising as a potential head coach. His name has been linked to several openings this off season, including Stony Brook and Delaware, though Dunleavy has decided to stay put for the time being.

Overview

The 2002 class was highly touted, coming in ranked second in the nation. It contained a 5-star recruit (Fraser), and three 4-star recruits (Foye, Ray, and Sumpter.) Injuries, particularly to Fraser but also to Sumpter, prevented the class from fulfilling their full potential, but their impact on the program is profound nonetheless. They laid the foundation for the culture that coach Wright wanted to build on the Main Line, and paved the way for Villanova’s return to prominence. This group has accomplished great things both on the basketball court and off of it, and will live in Villanova lore forever.