NCAA rules Villanova's prized freshman ineligible to play this season

The NCAA ruled Villanova freshman Omari Spellman academically ineligible. (AP)

 

Replacing Daniel Ochefu just became a whole lot tougher for reigning national champion Villanova.

Omari Spellman, the heralded freshman hailed as Ochefu’s heir apparent at center, has been ruled academically ineligible to play for the Wildcats this season, the school announced Friday morning. The 6-foot-9 big man will redshirt during the 2016-17 school year now that the NCAA has denied his final appeal to play right away.

“We are extremely disappointed for Omari,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said in a statement. “While we don’t agree with the NCAA’s decision, we are members of the association and respect it. We understand why the NCAA felt it had to rule this way.

“We will make a positive out of this for Omari. He will concentrate on his academics and individual development this season. In the long run Omari will be a better student and player for this experience.”

Spellman, Rivals.com’s No. 18 prospect in the 2016 class, began his high school career in suburban Cleveland before attending prep schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut as a junior and senior. Wright previously told ESPN.com that Spellman’s eligibility issue stemmed from the NCAA’s interpretation of when his ninth-grade year started.

While the loss of Spellman makes Villanova a little smaller and less talented, the Wildcats are still likely to begin the season in the top 10 in the polls and as the favorite to win the Big East. Wright’s team returns all but two key players from last year’s championship squad — Ochefu and point guard Ryan Arcidiacono.

Without Spellman, Villanova will lean heavily on 6-foot-8 veteran Darryl Reynolds to anchor the frontcourt. Reynolds averaged 9.0 points and 10.6 rebounds in the three games that Ochefu missed last season.

Spellman’s absence will also create more playing time for freshman big man Dylan Painter. Either Reynolds or Painter is likely to be on the floor most of the time alongside undersized power forwards Kris Jenkins and Eric Paschall.