Best Villanova basketball players: Wildcats all-time starting 5

Best Villanova basketball players: Wildcats all-time starting 5 – From Ed Pinckney to Jalen Brunson

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Jalen Brunson #1 of the Villanova Wildcats shoots in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow - Pool/Getty Images) /

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C – Howard Porter

Howard Porter was a dominant big man for Villanova basketball in his time. From 1969 through 1971 he routinely averaged 20-plus points and 14-plus rebounds for the team. While he wasn’t the biggest player at 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, he worked harder than just about any other player on the floor when he played. That determination is what lands him a spot on this team.

Journeying north from Florida, Porter came to the school as a High School Parade All-American. As a senior in high school, he led his team to the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association Class A State championship. The university and its fans were hopeful that he could bring the same type of winning to their campus during his time at Villanova.

Porter was a big part of one of the most successful teams prior to Massimino and Wright coming onboard. The team was on the cusp of being crowned champions in 1971 when they faced off against the UCLA Bruins in the national title game. Porter scored a game-high 25 points but the Wildcats ultimately came up short losing 68-62.

For Villanova, he became a three-time All-American and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1971 NCAA Tournament. However, the award was stripped away from him when it was discovered that Porter had signed a professional contract with the Pittsburgh Condors of the American Basketball Association while he was still a senior in college.

However, the NCAA can’t redact everything that Porter did on the floor and for that reason, he’s earned a spot among these other Wildcat legends on this roster. Porter passed in 2007 but the school honored his legacy by retiring his No. 54 jersey in 2019.