BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: VILLANOVA

July 31, 2008


Verbal Commitment Alert: James Bell, 6'4 (SG) Monteverde Academy (FL)


Adam Zagoria has the story today as James Bell to Villanova (ZagsBlog.net) was announced publicly earlier today. Bell is a shooting guard out of Florida in the class of 2010 that has been very high on Villanova for a few months.

Projected 2008-2009 Roster:

Seniors: Frank Tchuisi (F), Dwayne Anderson (SG), Dante Cunningham (F), Shane Clark (F)
Juniors: Scottie Reynolds (G), Reggie Redding (G), Casseim Drummond (C)
Sophomores: Corey Stokes (G), Corey Fisher (PG), Antonio Pena (F), Taylor King (WF)
Freshmen: Maurice Sutton (C/BF)
2009 Commitments: Maalik Wayns (PG), Isaiah Armwood (F)
2010 Commitments: James Bell (SG)



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While Jay Wright and Villanova continue to work towards closing a blockbuster class in 2009, they have gotten a head start in the class of 2010 with the early verbal commitment from James Bell. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard, who will attend Monteverde Academy in Florida this coming season, chose Villanova over Florida, Clemson, Miami and West Virginia, according to ZagsBlog.net.

Last year at the Arlington Country Day School, Bell averaged 13 points and 9 rebounds a contest and has performed on the AAU circuit with the strong Team Stat program out of the sunshine state that also recently produced USF guard Dominique Jones. Bell is a native of New Jersey, which, along with 'Nova's excellent graduation rate under Jay Wright, played a key role in his decision. Bell is an athletic guard on the wing.

Earlier this month, Jay Wright took another step to completing a huge class of 2009 as, joining early commitment Maalik Wayns, forward Isaiah Armwood, who plays at Montrose Christian in Maryland, committed to 'Nova. Armwood has long been considered Villanova's to lose and he made the call for the Wildcats today.

Armwood is a 6'8, 195 lb combo forward who is an intriguing prospect because he has length and athletic ability that few 6'8 players in the class can bring. His skill set seems to be ready to explode with the ability to go beyond the arc and take a big forward to the perimeter. Against a smaller forward, Armwood can take them inside. He has the potential to remind Wildcat fans of Curtis Sumpter with the inside/out match-up problems he can cause opponents.

Armwood averaged about 13 points and 10 rebounds last season for Montrose Christian and coach Stu Vetter. He missed much of the 2nd half of the season with a sprained MCL in his knee. Prior to entering the Big East, he will have to add some weight and strength to battle in the Big East.

Villanova still has three scholarships open for the class of 2009. From the get-go, shooting guard Dominic Cheek of St. Anthony's in Jersey City (NJ) has been at the top of Jay Wright's wish list for 2009 and the interest has been mutual. However, Cheek still has yet to narrow down his long list of suitors, but expect the Wildcats to be in it right until the very end, along with schools like Connecticut (where Cheek will be later this weekend), the local New Jersey Big East schools (SHU and Rutgers), Pittsburgh and several from the ACC and beyond.

Adding a true center is also a must for the Wildcats and Aaric Murray, of Glen Mills (PA) high School, and David Bruce of Linden (NJ) are a couple of the big men on the early Villanova watch list. Another forward Villanova is in the recruiting race for as is Armwood's teammate, Terrel Vinson of Montrose Christian. Mount Vernon wing Sherrod Wright has also been mentioned as a player on the VU radar for 2009.

As the spring recruiting periods moves along into the summer months, expect Villanova to be very active on the recruiting trail for the class of 2009 with a chance for one of the nation's best classes.