Off-seasons in college basketball are wild nowadays. From portal transfers, NIL influence, and the NBA Draft there is never a dull moment for college basketball fans even long after the March Madness dust has settled. Now that the NBA Draft and UDFAs are over, it is time to check in on where Villanova basketball alumni have ended up.
Alumni entered the draft and some alumni who were already professionals ended up on new teams.
Mark Armstrong – Brooklyn Nets
Armstrong declared for the draft and eventually decided to keep his name in the draft. Deciding to stay in the draft terminated his NCAA college eligibility. Armstrong had two years of college eligibility remaining before he decided to stay in the NBA draft.
After getting feedback in the draft process Armstrong decided it was the right time to make the leap to a professional career.
Armstrong did not get drafted during the 2024 NBA Draft.
Soon after the draft ended Armstrong signed as an undrafted free agent with the Brooklyn Nets. He is currently taking part in the Nets summer league games.
Justin Moore – Milwaukee Bucks
Moore was a part of some of Villanova’s best teams in the last few years. An injury in the March Madness tournament held him back from getting a full senior year. With his future undecided he returned to Villanova last season to play his final year of eligibility.
Moore now looks forward to the next chapter of his life and career. The Milwaukee Bucks picked Moore up as an undrafted free agent. Moore made the cut for the Bucks’ summer league roster.
Mikal Bridges – New York Knicks
The 2016 and 2018 Villanova championship teams were the best basketball teams ever at Villanova.
Recently a trio of players linked up in New York, New York to play for the New York Knicks. The trio led by Jalen Brunson also included Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. The trio earned the nickname the ‘Nova Knicks.’ At one point even Ryan Arcidiacono
Over and over Hart tried to get in former Villanova guard Mikal Bridges’ head to come and join the trio. Bridges was the face of the Brooklyn Nets who played in the same city.
After trying plenty of times, it finally happened.
Bridges was traded to the Knicks in return for Bojan Bogdanovic, Mamadi Diakite, Shake Milton, an unprotected 1st-round pick in 2025, an unprotected 1st-round pick in 2027, an unprotected 1st-round pick in 2029, an unprotected 1st-round pick in 2031, an unprotected pick swap in 2028, a top-four protected 2025 1st-round pick via Bucks, and a 2nd round pick in 2025.
It was a massive blockbuster trade that convinced the NBA world the Knicks were set on going for a trophy now.
Now the ‘Nova Knicks’ are set.
Collin Gillespie – Phoenix Suns
Collin Gillespie along with every other Villanova basketball alumni on this list is well loved by the fans.
After battling an injury in his first NBA season, Gillespie did not get the opportunity he deserved to showcase his abilities. He did however walk away an NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets.
After returning to full health, Gillespie picked apart the G League. He averaged 20.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 10.8 assists. It was the Gillespie Villanova faithful knew.
Unfortunately, the Nuggets did not offer him a qualifying offer.
Gillespie wasted no time and found a new home with the Phoenix Suns. It will not participate in the summer league this year due to timing and how things worked out.
Saddiq Bey – Washington Wizards
The most recent Wildcat to relocate. Bey was having a great season when an ACL tear shut down his season in March. In a contract year it is something no player or fan wants to witness or go through.
Fortunately for Bey his career success as well as the first half of the season was plenty enough for teams to inquire about signing him this offseason.
Bey took a 3-year, $20,000,000 contract with the Washington Wizards.
Bey is a DMV native so the new deal is also a homecoming for him.
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Jalen Brunson
Brunson shined at the top of the league with a career season performance with the New York Knicks. He finished All-NBA Second Team after carrying the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
While Brunson is not relocating anywhere and definitely not anytime in the near future, he did grab some money.
Brunson signed an unprecedented four-year, $156.5 million contract extension. If he would have waited till next season he would have been eligible for a $270 million extension.
The extension he signed was $113 million less and Brunson’s deal begins at the start of the 2025-26 season.
For now that is what the professional Wildcats in the NBA are up to. Their success is a testament to what Villanova’s program can manufacture. There will be more just like them in the near future and for years to come after that.