MONTCLAIR, N.J. — Villanova head coach Jay Wright expects a resolution on the Omari Spellman situation by early October.
“We’re in the appeal process so he’s cleared to be on scholarship, cleared to practice,” Wright told me Friday morning at Montclair Immaculate High School where the GardenStateHoops.com Coaches Clinic benefitted the Paterson Girls Basketball League. “The competition part of it, we’re waiting. By early October the latest, we should have an answer on whether he can play in games this year.”
Reigning NCAA champion Villanova announced last month that they were working with the NCAA to complete the eligibility certification process for the 6-foot-9, 268-pound Spellman, who was expected to be one of the top freshmen in the nation. He was not eligible for the team’s trip to Spain last month.
“The worst-case scenario would be he couldn’t play in games and it would be like an academic red-shirt year,” Wright said. “That would be the worst-case scenario. The best-case scenario is he plays, plays right away. He’s been practicing, he’s good to go, so it’s not affecting him right now.”
Villanova lost senior center Daniel Ochefu and expects 6-8 senior Darryl Reynolds to have a more significant role. Spellman would provide another big body down low. He’s also capable of stepping out to three-point range.
“Depth and size up front,” Wright said when asked how Spellman’s loss would affect the team. “And he’s a talent. He’s come along really well. He’s relaly adjusted well. He’s in great shape and he’s doing really well academically, so he’s ready. He’s ready to be a factor. So you know you have it. If he can’t play, you’re definitely missing something. And if he can play, you got a force up front.”
Spellman averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds and 1.5 assists last season for St. Thomas More (CT).
“I just want to go in there and help any way I can,” Spellman told SNY.tv in April. “It’s a great program, Coach Wright knows what he’s doing and I know he’s going to put me in a position to succeed and I know he’s not going to tell me to do anything that’s going to hurt me or the team, so whatever he sees fit, that’s what I’m gonna do.”
BIG THINGS EXPECTED OF PASCHALL
Wright is also expecting big things this season from 6-7 redshirt sophomore Eric Paschall, who sat out last season after transferring from Fordham.
The Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., native played well on the Spain trip, finishing with 21 points on 7-of-11 field goal attempts, including a pair of 3-pointers, with seven rebounds in the team’s final win over a Spanish Select Team.
“Being in the program last year, he has a great level of athleticism and ability to put the ball in the basket,” Wright said. “He’s one of those New York kids that you find every once in a while that just know how to put the ball in the basket from every angle, every spot on the floor, threes, two’, pull-ups. A real unique knack like those great New York scorers that we all know about and that’s special.
SHOUT OUT TO PATERSON
Along with Wright, St. Joe’s coach Phil Martelli, Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell and former Drexel coach Bruiser Flint spoke at the clinic, which was hosted by current Montclair Immaculate head coach Jimmy Salmon, a former Villanova assistant.
The funds raised at the event benefit the Paterson Girls Basketball League., which saw its referees budget slashed.
“It’s nice to help out the City of Paterson,” Wright said. “We got a lot of alums up here and to help out the girls midget basketball program is really cool.”
RECRUITING NOTES
Villanova is hosting 6-7 Chicago-area wing Justin Smith on an official this weekend. Smith also visited Michigan, Xavier and Indiana. He visits Stanford next weekend…Villanova assistant Ashley Howard was among those on hand Thursday night at the Ranney School (N.J.) for talented 2019 stars Bryan Antoine and Scottie Lewis. For more on those guys, read this.
