With just over two months until the new college basketball season, here’s what Kyle Neptune has at his disposal with the latest Villanova basketball roster.
The college basketball season is a little more than two months away. Teams are hitting the practice gyms to refine their skills and game plan to make it to March. The Villanova Wildcats have a complete rebrand from last season. Only five of the 14 rostered players last year are returning.
The returning five Wildcats are led by fifth-year Eric Dixon. Others returning include walk-on Collin O’Toole, redshirt freshman Jordann Dumont, senior Jordan Longino and redshirt junior Nnana Njoku.
While those names are familiar to the Villanova basketball fanbase, nine players will join the Wildcats this season.
Aleksandar Gavalyugov
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 195 pounds
Eligibility: Four years
Gavalyugov was on no one’s radar heading into the season, except head coach Kyle Neptune’s.
The freshman guard is native to Sofia, Bulgaria. Gavalyugov has accumulated experience in the U18 in FIBA competition. In his recent play at the Adidas EuroCamp, he averaged 15.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.
There is not much information about Gavalyugov and he can use that to his advantage. With little to study, players will take time to figure out his play and how he moves around the court.
Gavalyugov is one of four incoming freshmen joining the Wildcats this season.
Collin O’Toole (walk-on)
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 180 pounds
Eligibility: Two years
If one has witnessed a Villanova basketball game recently, O’Toole probably is the loudest player on the team.
O’Toole came in as a practice player his freshman season. The following season he joined the roster as a walk-on. The walk-on does not see much playing time on the court, especially with how Villanova’s recent seasons have played out.
Even though his presence in games is not huge, his presence on the team is essential. O’Toole spends late nights putting up shots and rebounding for his fellow teammates. He has helped Justin Moore with his return from an achilles tear. There is nothing O’Toole is not willing to do to make the Wildcat program successful.
Every week O’Toole studies upcoming opponents to replicate it in practice. Much of O’Toole contributions to the team go unnoticed, mainly because they are behind the scenes.
Intending to be a coach, O’Toole views his role at Villanova as the perfect start.
Enoch Boakye
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 250 pounds
Eligibility: One year
The last time Villanova basketball had a true big man was Daniel Ochefu. Boakye is bringing his size in the paint to Villanova’s roster.
The 6-foot-11 forward played last year at Fresno State and before was at Arizona State for two seasons. In his one season with Fresno State, he averaged 7.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 0.4 assists. His 223 rebounds and average of 7.7 per game would have been team-leading for Villanova last season. For reference, Eric Dixon led the Wildcats in rebounds last year with 222 and an average of 6.5.
Boakye is a high-level rebounder, shot blocker, and defender with a good touch around the rim, according to head coach Kyle Neptune. Rebounding was a weak area for Villanova last season, Neptune wasted no time addressing it.
Eric Dixon
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 255 pounds
Eligibility: One year
Possibly a player that needs no introduction, Eric Dixon. Entering his fifth and final season at Villanova, Dixon is ready for one final shot at March Madness.
Dixon could end up the scoring leader across the entire NCAA if he brings the play he displayed last year.
Dixon led the Wildcats in points per game (16.5), free throws made (3.6), rebounds (6.3) and blocks (0.4) last season. There is no reason he will not do it again this year. After entering the NBA Draft this offseason, he withdrew his name to return to the Main Line. Dixon has been a part of two different eras of Villanova basketball, Jay Wright and Kyle Neptune. He knows what it is like to play in March Madness, playing on the 2021-22 Final Four team.
Dixon is a natural leader and that is something a coach cannot teach. He will be the key point in the Villanova basketball lineup.
Jhamir Brickus
Position: Guard
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 205 pounds
Eligibility: One year
Brickus did not have to travel far in the transfer portal, leaving La Salle University for Villanova this offseason.
Brickus joins the Wildcats through the portal after posting an average of 13.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season. It was the best season statistically of his college career, earning him third-team All-Atlantic 10.
If Brickus can maintain his success from last season, he is primed for a starting role in the Wildcat offense. Villanova lost almost their entire roster of guards and all of their starting guards. He can shoot from deep, but when needed can drive to the basket.
Jordann Dumont
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 200 pounds
Eligibility: Four years
After sitting out his freshman season, Dumont maintained four years of eligibility.
His height is an addition to a program known for playing small ball, but aggressive small ball. Times are changing and height is needed and more common. In his time before Villanova, Dumont played at Hamilton Heights Christian in Tennessee by way of Quebec, Canada, his home.
Dumont played two seasons at Hamilton Heights, averaging 20 points, eight rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He helped Canada earn a bronze medal at the 2022 U18 FIBA Americas Championship and was part of the Canadian national team at the U19 World Cup.
Dumont is sidelined indefinitely after getting surgery on both of his hips back in March 2024.
Jordan Longino
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 215 pounds
Eligibility: One year
Longino is one of the four returning players to the Villanova roster.
Longino is a veteran of the Villanova way, spending all four years of his eligibility with the Wildcats. Two big things that shape the Wildcats are attitude and family. Now Longino is the second most-tenured player on the team. That will play a key role in jumpstarting the possible success this team can achieve.
Longino was one of three returning players to play meaningful minutes last season. Longino appeared in 29 games, starting in five games last season. Longino averaged 6.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists throughout his junior season. Longino looked confident when he possessed the ball.
Injuries caused Longino to miss five games, two of which were in the postseason.
He will be a vital veteran to the refreshed Villanova roster.
Josiah Moseley
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 185 pounds
Eligibility: Four years
One of the four freshmen recruits incoming to Villanova. Moseley has one of the most notable rap sheets in the 2024 Villanova recruiting class.
Moseley led his high school, Stony Point, to the UIL state basketball tournament for the first time in history. His performance earned him the 2024 Texas Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year and Texas Max Preps Player of the Year. The Texas native averaged 22.8 points and 8.9 rebounds during his high school career.
Kris Parker
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 195 pounds
Eligibility: Four years
Parker was offered by Villanova coming out of high school. His final four included the Wildcats, but ultimately committed to Alabama University.
Parker redshirted his first and only year at Alabama before hitting the transfer portal this offseason. Due to redshirting, there is no tape on Parker in college. Looking back at his high school play, there is a lot.
Listed as a top 10 prospect in Florida’s prep class of 2023, Parker averaged 24.8 points, 14.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists in his final season at Crossroad Academy. In that same season, Parker led the Crossroad Academy to a 2A District 1 title in his final season.
Malcolm Thomas
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 195 pounds
Eligibility: Four years
Villanova basketball finds some of their best talent at DeMatha High School in Maryland, Thomas could be next. Dematha is the home of former Wildcat Justin Moore, it is also Thomas’ alma mater.
Thomas joins three others in the freshman recruiting class. The four incoming recruits are a refresher to the program after only having one freshman in the class last season.
At Dematha, Thomas flashed his energy moving up and down the court, averaging 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists his senior season. The 6-foot-8 forward notably averaged 2.7 blocks per game.
As a three-star recruit out of high school, Thomas narrowed his choice of schools down to Villanova, California, Florida State, Vanderbilt and Xavier. Villanova’s “family aspect” solidified his decision to join the Wildcats.
Thoma’s father is Etan Thomas, the 12th overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft after his performance at Syracuse in the Big East. The Thomas family is no stranger to what it takes to play and perform well in the Big East.
Head coach Kyle Neptune sees the potential in Thomas. Neptune is aware of Thomas’ abilities as a defender and as a long-range threat on offense.
Matthew Hodge
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 200 pounds
Eligibility: Four years
Hodge is used to the pressure of big crowds and championship games, winning the state championship in his senior year of high school. The product of St. Rose moved from Belgium to New Jersey recently in 2022 to pursue his basketball aspirations.
In his two seasons with St. Rose, he averaged 15.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Hodge made history along with those stats, winning the first state title for St. Rose in 19 years his junior year. In his senior year, he aided in St. Rose winning back-to-back state titles, finishing 29-2.
Hodge’s championship success is coming to the Main Line. Villanova has a strong freshman class with huge potential upside.
Nnana Njoku
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 260 pounds
Eligibility: Two years
Njoku is one of two returning players who had meaningful minutes last season. His season was cut short due to a right knee injury that required surgery. Good news is he fully recovered and has been putting in hours in the gym polishing his game for the upcoming season.
Njoku was a standout in Villanova’s non-conference win against UCLA last season. He had two late blocks in the game that sealed the victory. Last offseason, Njoku worked on his body and it paid off. Compared to past seasons, Njoku was more explosive and strong in his limited playing time.
Before his season ended, Njoku averaged 0.8 points and 1.9 rebounds while averaging 4.6 minutes a game. Neptune and the staff expect a big leap in Njoku this season.
Tyler Perkins
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 205 pounds
Eligibility: Three years
Perkins is another transplant from Philadelphia this offseason. After spending his freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania, Perkins entered the transfer portal to find a new team.
The sophomore guard averaged 13.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his freshman year with the Quakers. Perkins set a freshman scoring record at UPenn and was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week three times.
Villanova had the oldest average age amongst rosters last year. The Wildcats’ average age among players was 22.8 years of age. With additions such as Perkins, the Wildcats have possibly multiple seasons to build players up to the levels Villanova basketball once had.
Wade Chiddick
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 200 pounds
Eligibility: Two years
Chiddick just recently was elevated from a practice player to the active roster this offseason. He joins Collin O’Toole as the second walk-on on the team.
Chiddick was a four-year varsity player at the nearby Westtown School. He currently attends Villanova University, majoring in computer science.
Wooga Poplar
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 197 pounds
Eligibility: One year
It is a homecoming, the Philadelphia native is returning to his roots. His hometown traits carry with him into basketball. Philadelphia is known as the city of underdogs, unseen and hard workers. Those people shape the city’s grind and culture. Poplar spent his post-game putting up shots in an empty Watsco Center in Miami. It was his way of improving his game.
That is the attitude and work ethic Villanova was built on, which means he should fit right in. Poplar was a part of Miami University’s March Madness run to the Final Four. Last season, he averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists.