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

PG – Jalen Brunson

There are several players that could be considered worthy of this specific spot on the Villanova basketball all-time starting lineup. Lowry, who just had his jersey retired this year is worthy and Arcidiacono, who also had his jersey retired this season, are two candidates who could have taken this spot. However, the selection goes to another guard who represented the essence of the Wildcats program under Wright, Jalen Brunson.

The son of an NBA player, Brunson has been around the game his entire life and it showed. He looked like a complete natural on the floor from the very minute that he stepped on the court as a freshman for Villanova basketball. He had the moxie, the talent and the unorthodox confidence required to take over the reins of a college team just a few months after going to prom.

Brunson only stayed in school for three seasons but he came in his first season and won a ring and won a second on his way out. As a freshman, he didn’t need to put up the stats but it was clear the amount of faith and trust that Wright put into him early on. By his junior season, he was an extension of his coach at all times and led the way as the team was able to double down and get another opportunity to cut down the nets.

In his last year, he was the consensus National Player of the Year, took home the Big East Player of the Year, the recipient of the Bob Cousy Award for the best point guard in college basketball and a consensus first-team All-American choice.

Add on to that his Big East Rookie of the Year award, Big East All-Freshmen team member, two-time All-Big East selection and you have the makings of an unforgettable player. In 2019, Sporting News named Brunson the college basketball player of the decade.