Villanova Recruiting

Villanova has had great success with recruiting this year, as they have already signed on four players in the top 50 of the ESPNU 100. Let's look into their signings and what they bring to the table for the Wildcats next season.

1. Dominic Cheek, Shooting Guard

Cheek attends St. Anthony's high school in New Jersey. He is ranked as the fifth best shooting guard recruit and the fifteenth best recruit overall. St. Anthony's is one of the top basketball high schools in the nation so therefore Cheek has been forced to be a team player with so much talent around him. He needs to improve his dribble drive so he can better penetrate the basket. Cheek is a very good defender, using his quickness and athleticism to stay in front of opposing ball handlers.

2. Maalik Wayns, Point Guard

Wayns attends nearby Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia. He is ranked as the third best point guard and number 20 overall. Wayns is a very good ball handler and passer, always looking to get his teammates involved in the game. He is a great leader on the court and plays with a lot of intensity. He will need to improve on his long range jumper.

3. Mouphtauo Yarou, Power Forward

Yarou attends Montrose Christian School in Maryland. He is ranked as the 10th best power forward and number 27 overall. Yarou has great size, at 6'9" and 240 pounds, that enables him to play strong around the basket. He is a great inside scorer and great rebounder. Yarou will need to get in better shape because he sometimes labors up and down the floor but his effort is there and usually he ends up where he is supposed to be.

4. Isaiah Armwood, Power Forward

Armwood plays alongside Yarou at Montrose Christian School. He is smaller than Yarou, at 6'8" and 195 pounds, but is faster and much better in transition. Armwood is an outstanding athlete who is a good rebound and can provide matchup nightmares for bigger and less athletic power forwards. He has a nice midrange jumper but will need to improve his shot from beyond the arc.



Jay Wright has put together a solid class to make up for just missing on number one prospect Tyreke Evans last year. Yarou should make an immediate impact as the starting power forward, and Cheek and Wayns could also be competing for starting jobs or be high impact bench players. Armwood should also get time as an athletic power forward who can really run up the floor. It looks as though the Wildcats have good things in their future.

http://wrightwaynova.blogspot.com/2009/01/breaking-down-villanovas-2009.html

Apparently, top Junior College transfer Jarrid Famous was at the Villanova game Sunday watching the game with Wildcats' signee Dominic Cheek. Famous is a 6'11" center who attends Westchester Community College in New York.

He would have two years of eligibility left if he chooses to attend Villanova. In JUCO, he is averaging 23.8 points per game and 13.5 rebounds per game.

Famous has also received interest from Seton Hall, UConn, Louisville, Memphis, Kentucky, and New Mexico.

Orange -

Assuming every Villanova underclassmen stays with the team, will they have a scholarship available for Famous?

IMKL wrote:Orange -

Assuming every Villanova underclassmen stays with the team, will they have a scholarship available for Famous?

There is a spot because Cassiem Drummond left and Famous can take his scholarship spot.

I had no idea they had that good of recruiting class so far. Is there anymore verbal commits that have not signed yet? I've heard of Dominick Cheek and watched some his recruiting videos on ESPN and he looks really good. I've never heard of Isaiah Armwood, but judging from his description it looks like he needs to begin the transition to small forward as soon as possible. If he is only 6'8 and 195 lbs and has a good transition game with a nice mid-range jumper then he could be like a Andre Iguodala type player. Especially if he can create match up nightmares like it says. If they alread have recruited Mouphtauo Yarou who is much bigger than I think that would be a great thing for them to do.

Cheek is a verbal do not think he has officially signed yet although I may be wrong. Armwood will probably be the 11th/12th man next season so he will have little impact no matter where he plays. Yarou is a monster who will probably start.

I am just hoping they get Wayns, he is great. Has anyone seen him play?

Buggers Bunny wrote:I am just hoping they get Wayns, he is great. Has anyone seen him play?

They've had Wayns for awhile now. I think he committed verbally during his sophomore year and signed with the team along with Armwood and Yarou in late '08.

I saw him play during the Elite 24 game at Rucker park last year (on TV, not in person). He was exceptional, but I mean... hard to judge in a game like that. Being a pure PG in an all-star game where defense is absent, you are always going to look incredible!

Here's a vid: Maalik Wayns Highlights in the 2008 Elite 24 Game