Villanova Film Room: Tyler Perkins, Three-and-D Wing

One of three returning players for Villanova Men’s Basketball, Tyler Perkins served as the Wildcats’ sixth man during the 2024-25 season, playing excellent team defense and adding a depth scoring option.

A rising junior with two years of eligibility remaining, Perkins transferred from Penn after his true freshman season. He turned in 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks across 25.8 minutes per game last year, his first with Villanova, and frequently wins his defensive matchups, opponents electing to pass rather than test his abilities.

Perkins stays low and keeps his feet moving, as shown here against UConn in the Big East Tournament, a twitchy athlete capable of sticking with guards in the backcourt while remaining squared in a proper stance, applying constant pressure with his arms wide.

Up-and-Down Offense

Perkins is streaky offensively — he missed 28 threes in a row at one point last season — averaging 6.3 points, but much of that stems from his usage with four veteran scorers ahead of him in the lineup. When the Wildcats did call his number, Perkins cleared 15 points three times and hit 20 once. He took more than half of his attempts (128-of-205) from three, converting 35.2 percent of the time, and made 48 percent of shots from two-point range.

Even in high school, Perkins typically took shots from long range instead of driving to the basket. At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, he possesses the size and athleticism to win in the paint — he also averages 4.7 rebounds per game in his career — but typically scores off the pass rather than driving or flashing ball-handling ability: many of his shots at the rim came off assists or in transition.

Finding offensive consistency or otherwise adding to his toolbox could help Perkins turn into a bona fide two-way player for Villanova next season, whether he continues as the sixth man or works his way into the starting lineup.