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

SG – Kerry Kittles

Kerry Kittles came to Villanova basketball by route of Louisiana and through four years as a Wildcat — and an extended stint as a member of the New Jersey Nets — he made himself into a Northeastern right before our very eyes. He was a smooth 6-foot-5 guard with a surprising spring to his step that caught a lot of defenders (and viewers) off guard at times. Built like a beanpole, Kittles had the fire and intensity to dominate within him.

He came to the Wildcats as a boy and left as a man with a whole lot of records. He is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,243 career points. He also has the most career steals (277) in school history and 13 other Villanova basketball records. In his four years at the school, he never averaged less than double digits in any year.

Yet, overall the team was unable to capitalize on his abilities and find postseason success. They only made the NCAA Tournament twice during his time with the Wildcats and both times they did not make it out of the first weekend. During his junior year, they upset in the first round by the 14th seed Old Dominion. The following season, Villanova basketball made it to the second round before being upset by the sixth seed Louisville Cardinals. Both times, the Wildcats entered March Madness as the three seed in their region.

While Kittles did not leave behind many banners from his time with the school, he was twice named as a consensus All-American (second team in 1995 and first team in 1996), made first-team All-Big East twice and was named Big East Player of the Year. His No. 30 jersey was retired by the school in 1998 — making him the quickest player to earn the honor in the history of the program.