Omari Spellman, a 2016 forward from the MacDuffie (MA) School, has committed to Villanova.
“To honor my mother’s birthday and our bond I would like to announce my commitment to Villanova University! #Wildcats,” he Tweeted.
The 6-foot-9 1/2 Spellman is the No. 5 center in the Class of 2016 according to 247Sports Composite rankings.
He also considered Kentucky, Ohio State, UCLA, UConn, Pitt, Arizona, Miami, West Virginia, Virginia, Florida, Indiana, Wake Forest, St. John’s and Seton Hall in no order.
Spellman last visited Villanova Feb. 7 for the Georgetown game.
“He picked Villanova because he had a great relationship with Jay Wright,” David Gates of the PSA Cardinals AAU program told SNY.tv. “I think he did a wonderful job, him and his staff, of recruiting him and just being up front with him with what they want from him as a player.”
The Wildcats will lose 6-11 Daniel Ochefu after next season and 6-7 JayVaughn Pinkston after this season, opening up room for Spellman down low.
“He’s an all-around player,” Gates said. “He will come in and hopefully be an impact player for them.”
Gates added: “I think all players need to work on skill-set stuff and continuing to grow into a player. I think he needs to just grow into becoming more of a leader and more of a great young man.”
Adam Finkelstein of ESPN.com first reported the news.
Villanova also recently offered Naz Reid, a 6-10 freshman man-child from Roselle (N.J.) Catholic who plays alongside Kentucky signee Isaiah Briscoe.
