Scottie Reynolds returning to Villanova

Good news for Villanova today, as point guard Scottie Reynolds has withdrawn his name from the NBA Draft. Smart choice. Reynolds was projected as possibly being able to sneak into the end of the second round, but was expected by many to go undrafted.

Reynolds provides a lot of leadership for this team, and the Wildcats will need it next year as they are losing seniors Dante Cunningham, Dwayne Anderson, and Shane Clark.

Scottie Reynolds will be returning to Villanova.
(photo credit: NYDN)

But don't expect Villanova to fall off next season after making a run to the Final Four in 2009. Yes, losing Cunningham, Anderson, and Clark is going to hurt, but the Wildcats bring back an excellent back court as Reynolds will be teaming with The Two Coreys (Fisher and Stokes) and Reggie Redding.

They also bring in the best recruiting class in the country this side of Lexington, which includes four top 100 players, and three in Rivals top 30: big men Mouphtou Yarou and Isaiah Armwood and guards Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek.

So yes, Villanova will once again have a talent laden roster, and has already been tabbed by one national college hoops writer as a top 5 team. But I warn you, Wildcat fans, don't underestimate what the Wildcats are losing to graduation.

The reason that Villanova was as good as they were last year was their toughness and their versatility, especially on the defensive end. It was guys like Anderson and Clark that could defend all five positions on the floor. They were the reason that Villanova could run so many different defensive looks - switching all screens, switching all exchanges, straight up man-to-man. And it was the Wildcat's defensive prowess that made them a great team last year.

And don't forget Dante Cunningham, who was basically the Wildcats only inside presence last season, made all the more valuable by the excellent 17 foot jumper he developed oer the course of his career.

Now, Yarou is a top 10 recruit, and may be able to come in and provide Villanova with an inside presence as a freshman. And Jay Wright has arguably the best track record of any coach this decade when it comes to churning out talented perimeter players. There is no denying the talent on this roster is as good as any in the country.

I'm simply saying that what Jay Wright is losing with Anderson and Clark graduating goes far beyond the stats those two posted every night.