Villanova Transfers: Onyekwere Hits the Road, Perkins Runs it Back

Villanova lost another player to the transfer portal on Wednesday, April 8, with redshirt freshman Niko Onyekwere entering his name according to a report from Jeff Neiburg of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Wildcats also had their first good news confirmed, with the team officially announcing that guard Tyler Perkins will stay put for his final college season.

A 7-foot-1 rising redshirt freshman, Onyekwere didn’t play a game during his Villanova tenure, using his first season in Division I to prepare for the rigors of the college game. He could look to transfer down to a lower level of the sport and find his sea legs in a place with playing time guaranteed. Onyekwere confirmed the report with a post to his Instagram story.

Perkins won the Big East most improved player award and third-team honors for his performance last season. He led Villanova in scoring with 13.7 points per game, adding 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals as a valuable presence on both ends of the court. Next year will mark his third and final season on the Main Line after serving as the team’s sixth man under Kyle Neptune as a sophomore. The graphic announcing Perkins’ return, posted to the team’s official social media accounts, reads “run it back.”

The moves mean Villanova has at least nine spots to fill on their roster heading into next season: they’ll retain Perkins and add freshman Adam Oumiddoch but lose four seniors and five transfers.