Villanova Swipes Malachi Palmer and Chris Jeffrey from Maryland

Villanova Men’s Basketball picked up a pair of commitments on Sunday, April 6, poaching incoming freshman Chris Jeffrey and rising sophomore Malachi Palmer from the Maryland Terrapins.

The commitments give Villanova at least four spots to fill on their roster ahead of the 2025-26 season: they still need to replace all five of their starters from this past season, whether promoting from within or via external recruiting.

Jeffrey, a four-star recruit ranked as the No. 70 player in his class per 247Sports, stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 200 pounds, a combo guard out of Maryland’s Mt. Zion Prep. He averaged 14 points, five rebounds and five assists per game as a junior, also showing a penchant for picking up steals, and elevated his scoring to another level during his final season with Mt. Zion, frequently dropping more than 25 points per game.

Jeffrey decommitted from Maryland after former Terrapins head coach Kevin Willard departed for Villanova, then promptly followed Willard to the Main Line. A polarizing prospect, On3 ranks Jeffrey as one of the top 60 players in his class, while ESPN’s ranking drags him down to the consensus No. 138 spot. Given his defensive ability and improved scoring, Jeffrey could quickly turn into a steal for the Wildcats… and fits the template of the sort of gritty player that fits in the Big East.

Palmer, a Pennsylvania native, played sparingly for the Terrapins during his freshman season, averaging 1.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 8.5 minutes per game across 22 appearances. A 6-foot-6 wing, Palmer’s shot selection could use some polish, but his size and athleticism will help him as he comes into his own.