Villanova's Kevin Willard explains the recruiting reality with fifth-year players

The Villanova Wildcats and head coach Kevin Willard aren't going to be recruiting any high school players at this time.

This is not because they can't. High school recruiting has long been a viable route for building a program. Willard has been a head coach since 2007 and he played high school and college ball himself, so he's well aware of all the ins and outs on the recruiting trail.

It's just not worth it to him right now, though, especially because a whole slew of veteran players are available for the 2026-27 season due to the NCAA's new five-in-five eligibility rule.

This rule gives players a five-year eligibility clock that begins either when they enroll in college or in the regular academic year immediately after their 19th birthday. 

The rule was adopted in June 2026, and it was intended to be implemented moving forward, but the immediate reaction from many class of 2022 athletes in both football and basketball was to sue the NCAA to receive their fifth year of eligibility and play in 2026-27.

Those fifth-year players are the new focus for Willard and the Wildcats, at least in the here and now before the class of 2022 cycles out.

"We're not recruiting a high school kid this year... just because of the fifth-year rule," Willard told the media on Thursday. "We have six guys that can come back for a fifth year. So, I'd much rather have one of my players come back, than bring in a high school kid."