Villanova Recruiting: Decision Day Approaches For Luigi Suigo

Its decision time for 7-foot-3 Italian center Luigi Suigo, as the Villanova recruiting target has until Saturday, June 13 to withdraw his name from consideration for the NBA Draft.

The 19-year-old phenom is reportedly choosing between the Wildcats, BYU and an NBA career; if he isn’t expected to come off the board within the top 20 picks, he’ll bolster his stock with time in college. Suigo played professionally in Serbia last season, averaging 8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks across 18.1 minutes per game off the bench.

His overseas experience bodes well for the adjustment to college, as the European leagues play a team-oriented style more reflective of Division I basketball than the one-on-one focus more common to AAU.

Yahoo Sports’ latest mock draft has the Thunder selecting Suigo at No. 17; ESPN’s draft board lists him as the No. 32 overall prospect, and USA Today also has Suigo falling past the first round. He didn’t take part in most of the drills at the NBA Draft Combine, which could hurt his draft stock.

Villanova and their fans still need a starting center, the biggest hole remaining on their roster, so the next week will provide plenty of stress… and clarity for the path forward once Suigo makes his choice.