Nico Onyekwere’s Transfer Twist | Big East Basketball News

Nico Onyekwere, the towering seven-foot-one Nigerian center, is finally getting his shot at Villanova after a dramatic transfer portal detour. Originally committed to Florida State, he flipped to Villanova in March 2025 and redshirted his freshman year while developing under coach Kevin Willard—seen as a skilled, old-school big who can anchor the paint. When two expected starters left via the portal, it seemed his path was clear… until he briefly entered the portal himself before pulling back just 12 days later. Now, with no new center coming in, Onyekwere’s role is set: he’ll see minutes when size is needed or the starter gets into foul trouble. He may not start, but his physical presence and growing game make him a valuable contributor—and with another year of development, he could be a starter sooner than you think. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c5f4493f78f458f9