Villanova prepares for the NBA Draft with Joe Cremo transfer

CATSONSVILLE, MD - FEBRUARY 18: Joe Cremo #24 of the Albany Great Danes dribbles around Jairus Lyles #10 of the UMBC Retrievers during a college basketball game against the UMBC Retrievers February 18, 2018 in Catonsville, Maryland. The Retrievers won 68-60. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Joe Cremo is an important addition for a Villanova squad expecting an NBA Draft exodus.

Jay Wright and Villanova might have more riding on this year’s NBA Draft than any other college coach and program. The Wildcats know they’ll lose Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges, but things could get even worse. Omari Spellman and Donte DiVincenzo could also bolt if they project as first round picks.

That’s why it was so important for Villanova to land a graduate transfer capable of helping them right away. Albany guard Joe Cremo’s decision to commit to the Wildcats this week gives Wright just what he was looking for.

Cremo won’t be a long-term fix for the program. He only has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining after playing three seasons for the Great Danes. That isn’t important to Wright though. He just needs Cremo to fill an important role for his team before he can recruit more blue chip talent.

That doesn’t mean Cremo doesn’t have the chance to be an excellent player for the Wildcats. He averaged over 17 ppg at Albany last season and he can really shoot the ball from the perimeter. The fact that Cremo shot 46 percent from behind the arc last season makes him a perfect fit for Wright’s perimeter-oriented attack.

Landing Cremo wasn’t easy for Villanova either. Wright and company had to beat out Kansas, Texas and Creighton to secure the prolific guard. In the end, Cremo cited the family atmosphere at Villanova as his primary reason for committing his future to the program.

Specifically, Cremo should help Wright deal with the loss of Brunson and potential departure of DiVincenzo. He isn’t the natural point guard that Brunson was for the Wildcats or the electric athlete that DiVincenzo is, but he is the best shooter of the three. That will allow him to play on or off the fall depending on the team’s lineup.

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In the end, Joe Cremo isn’t going to be Villanova’s brightest star next season, but he’ll be a valuable piece for Jay Wright. That’s a really solid get for a Wildcats program that faces a ton of uncertainty in advance of this year’s NBA Draft.