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Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Villanova will have to look to fall 2026 to attempt another deep run in the NCAA Tournament. And at the moment — they have some talent to replace.
The Wildcats have lost three talents so far in the NCAA Transfer Portal. Freshman 6 foot 2 guard Aceden Lewis — a runner-up for Big East rookie of the Year — has entered the transfer portal for next year. Sophomore Guard Malcolm Flaggs, Duke Brennan, and freshman Nico Onyekwere have now joined him. The total of transfers from the Wildcats now includes the list of Duke Brennan, Zion Stanford, Acaden Lewis, Bryce Lindsay, Braden Pierce, Nico Onyekwere, and also Malcolm Flaggs in total.
A decade after Jay Wright’s Villanova Wildcats lifted an NCAA Basketball championship in dramatic fashion with a buzzer-beater — sending the Wildcats parading down Market Street. But ten years after Villanova’s magical run that ended with Kris Jenkins buzzer-beating three pointer that was heard around Philadelphia and won the 2016 NCAA Tournament for the Wildcats — Villanova had to make a spectacular run of their own without several talent pieces.
As reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer and Clutchpoints — Guard, Temple Transfer, and West Catholic High’s Zion Stanford has reportedly left the Villanova Basketball Program and intends to enter the Transfer Portal. Stanford did not play in the last two games of the season against DePaul and Xavier. Last month — starting Forward Matt Hodges was also lost for the season with a torn ACL.
Villanova’s offseason won’t just be about replacing lost talent. It will also be about a plan for Kevin Willard’s team to move towards the glory of the past decade. To do this — the Wildcats will need both.
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