Yarou to commit to 'Nova

Mouphtaou Yarou will commit to Villanova for the class of 2009, according to Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports.

Yarou is a 6'-9'' power forward whose stock soared this summer after a successful run with the AAU DC Blue Devils. Rivals has Yarou ranked as the #14 overall player for 2009, and the fifth-best power forward in his class.

Yarou is a rising senior at Massanutten Military School in Woodstock, Va. Capitol Hoops identified Yarou as a rising star as early as this May.

According to Capitol Hoops, Yarou does not yet speak English, so Villanova may have to find a translator if that is in fact the case.

Obviously, getting a top-15 overall player for next year is a huge grab for Villanova. If Yarou lives up to expectations, he could be one of the best Villanova big men in recent memory.

The 2009-2010 class is shaping up to be a good one for Villanova. Maalik Wayns will be the team's point guard of the future, and Taylor King, a forward who transferred from Duke, will regain his eligibility. Isaiah Armwood, another forward, has also committed to Villanova for 2009.

The shooting guard Dominic Cheek remains Villanova's top recruiting priority for 2009-2010, but it is interesting to note that Yarou, who gets much less press, was actually rated a higher prospect by some services for that class.

"Nova Notebook" gives offseason insight

The Villanova media relations czar Mike Sheridan is back this offseason with his much-loved public relations column, Nova Notebook.

Nova Notebook gives Villanova fans an insider's view of the program, typically profiling a selected player with behind-the-scenes stories and quotes.

So far this spring, the column has offered features on Scottie Reynolds, Corey Stokes, the new Wildcat Taylor King, and the former guard Mike Nardi.

Sheridan is a very good writer and skillfully captures the essence of "Villanova basketball." Although his office has steadfastly refused to grant this Web site a press pass for each of the last two seasons, we maintain hope that 2008-2009 will finally be the year LetsGoNova.com makes it into press row.

The Nova Notebook column is published periodically in the summer, but assumes a weekly schedule in the fall as the run-up to the basketball season grows shorter.

The first Nova Notebook column ever was published on August 30, 2002, and chronicled the former Villanova guard Gary Buchanan's trip to Michael Jordan's basketball camp.

Taylor King commits to Villanova

According to an article on ESPN.com, Taylor King will transfer to Villanova.

King, a 6'7" forward from Duke, will sit out one year before joining the Wildcats for the 2009-2010 season. King had been previously recruited by the Wildcats in high school, where he was a McDonald's All American.

King played in all 34 games for Duke this year before deciding to explore transfer options. King had scheduled visits to USC and Gonzaga, but canceled those appointments after accepting a scholarship offer from Jay Wright this weekend.

The sharpshooting King will add a perimeter threat to Villanova's attack.

Taylor King to visit 'Nova

Taylor King, the 6'7" transferring forward from Duke University, will reportedly visit with Villanova and coach Jay Wright this weekend.

King played in every game in his freshman year, and was a McDonald's All-American at Mater Dei Highschool in Southern California. King was originally offered a scholarship from Villanova before committing to Duke. The other schools he is considering transferring to include USC, UCLA, and Gonzaga.

King saw time in every game last season for the Blue Devils, averaging 5 points and 2 rebounds. One of his strongest abilities is his ability to make shots from the perimeter. King shot an impressive 40 percent from three last season.

If King did choose to come to Villanova, he would have to sit out a year. However, we do have a scholarship for him (Malcolm Grant), and I think he would be an excellent fit for this program. Taylor King could very well be a nice gift that falls in Jay Wright's lap, if things go well this weekend.