New reports reveal a pair of impact players that new Villanova head coach Kevin Willard could be targeting in the transfer portal this month.
After a pair of underwhelming seasons, Maryland brought in former Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard to help bring the program back to relevancy. And while the Terrapins had a losing season in 2023-24, Willard did lead the team to a pair of 20-plus win seasons and a Sweet 16 appearance in March.
It is why he is the new head coach of Big East powerhouse Villanova. He will now be tasked with getting the school back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since Jay Wright’s final season in 2021-22. To do that, they will need talent. And in the era of NIL collectives, the Wildcats will have the opportunity to bolster their roster in the transfer portal this month.
This week, a pair of reports offered an update on two impact players the program could make a strong push to land in the portal.
Kevin Willard planning to bring former Maryland recruit to Villanova?
“Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie is working on setting up visits to both Tennessee and Villanova, per his father,” CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein reported on Thursday.
Gillespie posted nearly 15 points and just under five assists per game while shooting 40.7% from the three-point line last season for Maryland. He has a five-star rating and is viewed as the top player available in the portal on college basketball expert Evan Miya’s list of talent in the portal. However, there is another player in Willard’s crosshairs.
247 Sports also reported this week that Villanova is set to meet with talented 6-foot-7 Bosnian forward Harun Zrno. He originally committed to Indiana but reopened his recruiting after they made a head coach change. He averaged 17.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 50% from the field, 43% from the arc, and 77% at the line this past season.
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