Villanova HC Kevin Willard Breaks Down New-Look Roster

Villanova head coach Kevin Willard appeared on an episode of college basketball insider Jon Rothstein‘s podcast published on July 7, 2026, discussing his roster construction for the upcoming season. While adding size was the Wildcats’ stated priority in the transfer portal and recruiting, Willard said he also wanted to preserve the flexibility to play a variety of styles.

“I wanted to be able to play both small and big. Obviously the template’s big, but if you look at some of the teams that were really successful in this year’s tournament, there was times they were able to play really small and quick,” Willard said.  “From that 2 to 5 range we can manipulate the roster any way we want and go a little bit bigger or play a little bit smaller, and I think that’s something I’m most excited for.”

As such, Villanova acquired players like 6-foot-6 Devin Royal, who started at power forward for Ohio State last season, but could conceivably play any position from the 2 in bigger lineups to a small-ball center similar to Matt Hodge last season. Oregon transfer Kwame Evans Jr. can play the 4 or the 5, and the Wildcats have a stable of guards ranging from the do-it-all Tyler Perkins to snipers like freshman Adam Oumiddoch and Cornell transfer Jake Fiegen; Willard praised Fiegen for his toughness, saying he challenges Perkins for the title of the toughest practice player he’s ever coached.

Two returning Wildcats, Perkins and Hodge, are recovering from surgery: Willard said he expects Perkins back well before the regular season starts, but that Hodge’s recovery from a torn ACL may take longer.

Scouting Suigo

The headliner of Villanova’s offseason was 7-foot-3 Italian center Luigi Suigo, a unicorn of a player with overwhelming size and strong shooting. Willard said that although Suigo, nicknamed GG, hasn’t yet crossed the pond to take part in summer practices, he was as impressed by his presence off the court as his presence on it.

“GG is as skilled as any player, probably, I’ll ever coach. Great hands, great passer, 7’3, can shoot the basketball really well. And most of anything, he’s a phenomenal young man. Just terrific, fun to be around, great personality, has an unbelievable work ethic,” Willard said, expanding on the versatility Suigo will bring to Villanova.

“One of those kids that we can play out of the high post, we can go down low, you’re gonna have to respect his three-point shooting ‘cause he can really shoot the basketball. Just a really skilled player that has a great desire to be great.”

The biggest question mark for the Wildcats is point guard, so Willard expanded on his expected game plan for Villanova’s top two players at the position. He described Buddy Simmons II and Elijah Crawford as “two drastically different players:” while they’re both listed at point guard, he can trot both onto the court at the same time and play off their unique strengths.

He said Crawford is a pass-first point guard with excellent defense and a knack for the pick-and-roll game; Simmons, at 5-foot-9, is a bulldog who wants to prove his height doesn’t matter and is a threat to shoot upon crossing half court.