Villanova Guard Tyler Perkins a Defensive Ace | Meet the Wildcats

This is one in a series of stories introducing the Villanova Wildcats’ 2025-26 roster.

The only returning scorer on the Wildcats’ roster, junior guard Tyler Perkins is an outstanding defender who Villanova used as their sixth man and an occasional starter after he transferred in from Penn last season. Perkins was one of just three Wildcats to remain with the team following former head coach Kyle Neptune’s firing, providing continuity in this ever-changing college basketball landscape. 

He averaged 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks over 25.8 minutes per game as a sophomore, finishing in double figures ten times. 

Perkins’ defense is his bread and butter. Steals and blocks don’t tell the whole story, as most teams opted to take another route to the basket instead of testing his abilities. Perkins maintains a low stance and has the fast-twitch athleticism to stick with his man, staying wide to cut off passing lanes.

That athleticism could help him attack the paint more, but even in high school Perkins preferred to pull up from range or score off the pass. 

Rounding Out His Offense

A streaky scorer who missed 28 three-point attempts in a row at one point last season, Perkins should benefit from increased playing time and more offensive responsibility, allowing the Wildcats to ride the hot hand instead of keeping him cold.

During his time at Penn, Perkins put up 13.7 points per game on only slightly worse shooting (39.1 percent of shots made compared to 40 percent last season), so he’s capable of taking on a bigger role. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 212 pounds, Perkins played the wing and took most of his shots (128 of 205) from three during his first season at Villanova. He converted on 35.2 percent of those shots, so his shooting and shot selection could use some work, but will have ample opportunities to flesh out his game as a starter this season. Perkins also put together a more balanced shot chart at Penn, taking just 150 of 343 shots from beyond the arc, so he can adapt his game to the role he plays.

Given his defensive talent, any other contributions are icing on the cake, but unlocking a new level to his game could turn him into a star and further elevate this Villanova team.