Villanova Recruiting: Wildcats Pick Up Surprise Commitment from 7-Footer

Villanova Men’s Basketball picked up a commitment from 7-foot-1 center Nico Onyekwere, a three-star recruit in the class of 2025, on Monday, April 25. NovaAlerts initially broke the news on Twitter (X), and Onyekwere later confirmed it via an Instagram post.

Onyekwere tips the scale at 240 pounds, already possessing a good deal of muscle for his height. He initially committed to Florida State, signing his a National Letter of Intent in November 2024, but decommitted from the Seminoles in March following a coaching change.

A native of Nigeria, Onyekwere attends Long Island Lutheran High School, where he spent his first season playing in the United States. He previously played in the European circuit, putting up seven points and 4.5 rebounds per game for FC Bayern Munchen II, a club in the third tier of German professional basketball, as a 16 year old.

Onyekwere didn’t make it on any top prospect lists, which might seem surprising given his build, but a lack of playing time in the United States limited the exposure he received: Florida State was the only team to offer him during his initial recruiting cycle, and Villanova may have found a diamond in the rough.

Onyekwere’s addition leaves the Wildcats with at least three spots to fill on their roster ahead of the 2025-26 season. He’ll have four years of eligibility remaining, giving him plenty of time to develop, and along with redshirt freshman Braden Pierce, Villanova will have two players at least seven feet tall next season: the last time they had even one such athlete was back in 2006.

Another Wildcats recruiting target is Acaden Lewis, the No. 35 player in his class per ESPN. Lewis is expected to choose between Villanova and Miami later this week.