- Ed Pinckney was a member of the 1985 national championship team.
- Kerry Kittles is Villanova’s all-time leading scorer with 2,243 points.
- Jalen Brunson was part of the 2016 and 2018 national championship teams.
From 2016 to 2024, if you bet on the NCAA basketball odds for Villanova to win the national championship, you would’ve been successful twice, as they won in 2016 and 2018.
Their other championship came in 1985.
Today, you can bet on their basketball odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook.
Below, you’ll find my five best Wildcats players of all time.
5 Best Villanova Wildcats Basketball Players, Ranked
| Rank | Player | Position | Villanova Years |
| 1 | Ed Pinckney | F | 1981-1985 |
| 2 | Kerry Kittles | F | 1992-1996 |
| 3 | Jalen Brunson | G/F | 2015-2018 |
| 4 | Paul Arizin | F | 1947-1950 |
| 5 | Kyle Lowry | F/C | 2004-2006 |
Villanova Wildcats All-Time Greatest Basketball Players
1. Ed Pinckney
Pinckney played for Villanova from 1981 to 1985, racking up 1,107 rebounds (fourth in program history), 196 steals (seventh), and 253 blocks (second).
Pinckney was a member of the 1985 national champion team, was the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, won the Robert V. Geasey Trophy (given to the most valuable men’s basketball player in the Philadelphia Big 5), two-time first-team All-Big East, and second-team All-Big East.
Over his career, he averaged 14.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game.
2. Kerry Kittles
Kittles scored 2,243 points (first) and had 277 steals (first) over his career at Villanova from 1992 to 1996.
He averaged 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game.
Kittles was a consensus first-team All-American, consensus second-team All-American, Big East Player of the Year, three-time first-team All-Big East, and a two-time Robert V. Geasey Trophy winner.
The school retired his No. 30.
3. Jalen Brunson
Brunson played three seasons for Villanova from 2015 to 2018 and won two national championships. These came in his freshman and junior seasons.
He was the National College Player of the Year, consensus first-team All-American, won the Lute Olson (given to the most outstanding men’s basketball player) and Bob Cousy (given to the best point guard) Awards, was a second-team All-American, Big East Player of the Year, and won the Robert V. Geasey Trophy.
He averaged 14.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.8 steals per game.
In the 2017-18 season, he had 756 points, the fourth-most in a single season in Villanova history.
His No. 1 was retired by the school.
4. Paul Arizin
Arizin suited up for Villanova from 1947 to 1950, averaging 20.0 points per game.
As a senior, he averaged 25.3 points.
He was the Helms Foundation Player of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year, consensus first-team All-American, and the NCAA scoring champion in 1950.
In the 1949-50 season, he had 735 points, fifth in a single Villanova season.
Arizin also holds the single-game scoring record with an eye-popping 85 points in a game against NAMC during the 1948-49 campaign.
His No. 11 was retired by the school.
5. Kyle Lowry
Lowry was a second-team All-Big East and a Big East All-Freshman squad member while at Villanova from 2004 to 2006.
He averaged 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game. This came despite starting just three games as a freshman.
As a sophomore, he improved mightily from his freshman season, averaging 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game.
He recorded 77 steals during the 2005-06 season, the third-most in a single Villanova season.
The school retired his No. 1, a jersey number that has been retired on three occasions—Lowry, Brunson, and Jake Nevin.
Nevin was the team’s trainer for over 50 years.
The content provided in this blog is intended for entertainment purposes only. All views and opinions expressed are the authors and reflect their individual perspectives on sports, betting, and related topics. This content should not be considered professional betting advice or the official views of BetMGM LLC. Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know is experiencing issues related to gambling, seek help from a licensed health professional. This blog is not liable for any losses, damages, or consequences resulting from betting activities.
