City of Basketball Love

Eugene Rapay (@erapay5)
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Big news for Villanova fans and a sigh of relief for Jay Wright and his coaching staff came on Tuesday night, as Josh Hart tweeted that he will be returning to the Main Line for his senior year.

The 6-foot-5 guard pulled his name out of the NBA Draft pool just a day before the May 25 deadline. Hart went through the pre-draft process without an agent, participating in the league's draft combine in Chicago and was further evaluated by a few NBA teams. He worked out for the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, and Atlanta Hawks.

Hart was the Wildcats' leading scorer last season, in a year that culminated in a national championship. He averaged 15.5 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game. 

“I enjoyed the process and learned a lot,” Hart said in a release. “It was definitely worthwhile. I look forward to graduating next year and coming back to play with my teammates.”

He joins fellow rising seniors Darryl Reynolds and Kris Jenkins, who also opted to stay another year instead of leaving early for the draft, to fill the void left by the graduation of Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu.

With 21 wins this season, Reynolds, Hart and Jenkins will become the winningest senior class in the program's history, surpassing the 117 that was set by Arcidiacono and Ochefu's class this year.

The trio will have the assistance of Mikal Bridges, Phil Booth, and Jalen Brunson, who were key players in the championship run. 

Aside from the veterans, Donte Divincenzo and Fordham transfer Eric Paschall will return to the court after being redshirted last season. The Wildcats will also welcome five-star recruit Omari Spellman (St. Thomas More, Conn.) and local Hershey, Pa. product Dylan Painter as freshmen.