Villanova Basketball: Omari Spellman ineligible for 2016-17 season

Daniel Ochefu’s replacement won’t play this season for Villanova basketball.

Villanova, who is looking to become the first team to repeat since Florida in 2006-07, is one of the current favorites to win the 2017 National Championship.

But the Wildcats were dealt a serious blow on Friday morning as the school announced that five-star freshman center Omari Spellman has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA. He will remain enrolled at the school and can participate in practice. He’ll have four years remaining, starting in 2017-18.

Spellman is not only the gem of Villanova’s 2016 recruiting class, but he was the expected replacement for now-graduated center Daniel Ochefu. Now, head coach Jay Wright will likely insert junior forward Darryl Reynolds into the team’s starting lineup and use Dylan Painter, Tim Delaney and even Kris Jenkins at the five.

The Wildcats still have a loaded roster that gives them a leg up on the rest of the Big East, however, the Wildcats lose a bit of ground nationally. Reynolds is an excellent rebounder at 6’8″, is athletic enough to run the floor and is capable of scoring around the basket.

But Spellman would’ve given the ‘Cats a different dimension.

The big man has really soft touch and has the ability to stretch the floor all the way out to the three point line. He’s a very effective pick-and-pop player and can score on the block, both when facing up and when operating with his back to the basket.

Even though Spellman is not quick, fast, explosive or athletic, he’s good enough defensively to clog the painted area.

Villanova has won three straight Big East regular season championships and their roster has enough talent, depth and experience to win a fourth regardless of Spellman’s ineligible status.

Josh Hart will be one of the top players in the country. Kris Jenkins, the National Championship hero, is likely to be even better in 2016-17. Mikal Bridges is one of the most versatile players in the Big East. Jalen Brunson is going to breakout as the starting point guard. Add in the fact that Phil Booth and Reynolds are returning, Donte DiVincenzo is back from injury and Eric Paschall is eligible after sitting out one season, and Villanova will be at top-10 team throughout the year.

Wright’s squad is losing a valuable front court contributor, but it certainty isn’t the end of the world for the flagship program of the Big East.

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