A New Niche For Villanova Guard Buddy Simmons? | Meet the Wildcats

This is one in a series of stories previewing each member of the 2026-27 Villanova Men’s Basketball roster.

Villanova senior transfer Darryl “Buddy” Simmons II stands 5-foot-11 and is a spark plug of a point guard expected to slot in behind starter Elijah Crawford. Simmons spent last season at St. Bonaventure, averaging 16.4 points, 2.8 assists and 1.4 turnovers per game while taking 48.8 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.

Simmons converted on 42.5 percent of those shots, a hair below his 45.7 percent on two-point shots. Given his size, Simmons’ ability from range is a key aspect of his game: he attempted just 69 free throws last season despite taking 453 shots, a testament to his lack of production in the paint. Film of the Bonnies’ A-10 Tournament games against Dayton and La Salle showed him relying on step-back shots while approaching the paint, doing whatever he could to give himself the space needed to make a basket. Nominally a point guard — his dribbling certainly looks the part — Simmons’ lack of passing means he might fit better on the wing.

Less is More

Villanova head coach Kevin Willard has tinkered with his lineup through the Wildcats’ first two preseason games: with Luigi Suigo in foul trouble against George Mason, Simmons was part of a dedicated small-ball group in the first half. He’s made seven of 20 shots (4-of-13 from three) across 41 minutes played through those two games, racking up 18 points, three rebounds and four assists. Looking at his uptick in assists, playing on a better team — St. Bonaventure finished near the bottom of the A-10 last season — could cut down on Simmons’ tendency as a shoot-first guard: rather than feeling the need to shoulder the Wildcats’ offense, he can alter the way he plays and create opportunities for the players around him.

Many of Simmons’ passes in the A-10 Tournament came off the bounce: without the wingspan to get around longer guards, he searched for any way he could to link up with his teammates. Having shooters like Jake Fiegen, Adam Oumiddoch and space-creators like Luigi Suigo and Kwame Evans Jr. around him should help create open looks for Simmons, another way that a scaled-back role could help him succeed.

He won’t ever be a defensive star, but hard work, persistence and the teammates around him can help Simmons hold his own when he does take the court. Through stops with the Bonnies and Gardner-Webb, Simmons hasn’t let his height slow him down.