Top 3 Villanova players to watch out for in 2024-25 college basketball season ft. Jhamir Brickus
The villanova-wildcats" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">Villanova Wildcats look to bounce back from the 2023-24 season that saw them mounting the fifth-worst record in the Big East and failing to garner an NCAA bid. Their 2024-25 roster shakeup saw five incoming freshman players, six returning players and four new commits from the transfer portal.
With that, let's look at the possible players that can make significant strides for Villanova in the 2024-25 season.
Villanova players to watch in 2024-25 college basketball season
#1. Aleksandar Gavalyugov
The shifty Bulgarian guard is the most exciting piece in the Wildcats’ 2024-25 roster. He is a shifty guard with dependable scoring and passing instincts who earned a tryout invitation from the NBA Global Academy last year. Gavalyugov can score from all three levels, has a great understanding of the game, makes quick reads and quickly changes speed.
He has signed a financial aid agreement to play for Kyle Neptune as a freshman after graduation from the NBA Global Academy in Australia. He posted 15.7 points, 6.3 assists and 5 rebounds in Adidas EuroCamp and has extensive experience playing age-restricted tournaments on the international stage.
#2. Jhamir Brickus
Brickus posted 13.9 points and 4.8 assists on 43.4% shooting from the floor and 40% from the three-point line last season for the La Salle Explorers, making him an immediate fit into Villanova’s starting 2024-25 lineup. He touched the 20-point mark four times and posted a whopping 41 points on 48.1% efficiency in the Big 5 Classic game against the Temple Owls.
Not only can Jhamir Brickus handle the ball well, he can also lead the distribution. His presence will consistently help Neptune to space the floor and create opportunities for other teammates.
#3. Eric Dixon
The 6-foot-6 forward has great fundamentals and can candle physicality on both ends of the floor. Although his 16.6 points and 6.5 rebounds last season is the top production in Villanova’s roster, his value increases in smaller aspects of the game like boxing out, rebounding and setting timely screens.
Dixon has enough moves in his bag to play with his back to the basket and also has a sweet mid-range touch.
This season, his shot mechanics can help him expand his game to the long range and become a three-level scorer. The combination of improving skill and experience makes him a mismatch threat.