Villanova Men’s Basketball Reserve Forward Departs Team

Villanova Men’s Basketball will play the rest of the 2025-26 season without forward Tafara Gapare, who elected to depart the program according to a team release on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

Gapare, a 6-foot-9 senior forward who won the dunk contest during Villanova’s season kickoff event, last played on Dec. 19 against Wisconsin. He appeared as ‘out’ on the Big East availability report ahead of their Dec. 23 win over Seton Hall. After that, the Wildcats didn’t disclose the reason for his absence.

Gapare put up 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds and a team-high 0.8 blocks in 16.3 minutes per game this season, following Villanova head coach Kevin Willard from Maryland to the Main Line. 

His absence further shortens the Wildcats’ bench: without him and since freshman guard Chris Jeffrey’s knee surgery, Villanova has used just three substitutes, guard Devin Askew, wing Malachi Palmer and center Braden Pierce. The Wildcats have struggled against lanky teams this season, a trend that could intensify without Gapare.

Other forwards on the roster include 6-foot-8 starter Matt Hodge, who takes most of his shots from three, and leading rebounder Duke Brennan.

For a related story, Gapare spoke with Philadelphia Sports Now in October about what it means to play for Kevin Willard.