Villanova’s 2024-25 men’s basketball roster continues to take shape.
On Monday night, the Wildcats landed a commitment from Fresno State transfer Enoch Boakye, a 6-foot-11 center who began his college career at Arizona State as a five-star high school recruit.
Bookye, who grew up in Canada, visited Villanova in early May. He scored 7.5 points and grabbed 7.7 rebounds per game in 22.7 minutes with the Bulldogs in 31 games last season. Like outgoing center Lance Ware, Boakye has not attempted a 3-pointer in college and does most of his work around the rim. Where Boakye struggled in 2023-24 was in free throws (49.2%). But Boakye is a solid rim protector, an area where Villanova struggled in 2023-24.
Boakye, who has one season of eligibility remaining, would likely start at center alongside Eric Dixon if Villanova had its way. The Wildcats are still awaiting a final decision from Dixon, who entered the Draft but is unlikely to be selected and could earn more money by returning to Villanova for a sixth year of school and a fifth season of college basketball.
Dixon commented on Boakye’s engagement announcement on Instagram, writing: “Let’s work.”
» READ MORE: Eric Dixon’s impending decision is a story of modern college sports. Here’s why he could return to Villanova.
All signs point to a return to Villanova for Dixon, who is finishing up his final NBA workouts. If Dixon returns, Villanova has plenty of options when it comes to the makeup of its starting lineup. The Wildcats could start Dixon at center and rely on one of their freshmen, Matthew Hodge or Josiah Mosley, to start at power forward. They could also start Dixon at power forward alongside Boakye, which seems like the most likely outcome.
Those decisions, of course, are for the future. Right now, the Wildcats continue to finalize a roster they hope will return the program to the NCAA Tournament after missing the last two seasons.
Monday’s news marked a positive after a week in which Virginia Commonwealth transfer Max Shulga decided not to join Villanova and remain at VCU through his final season of eligibility, a blow that has Villanova back on the table of drawing in search of another playmaking guard who can shoot. from the competition from three-point range.
Assuming there are no issues with Boakye, he will become the third Villanova player to join the program through the transfer portal this offseason, joining guards Tyler Perkins (Penn) and Jhamir Brickus (La Salle). Villanova remains in the mix for Miami guard and Philadelphia native Wooga Poplar.
If Dixon returns (a decision is expected this week), Villanova would have three more scholarship spots to fill, one of which the Wildcats hope to use at Poplar.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow @Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.