Sources: Goodman to decommit from 'Nova

Several sources very familiar with the situation have confirmed rumors that Savon Goodman, a 6-6 senior forward who starred in recent seasons at Academy of the New Church, will decommit from his verbal agreement to play for Villanova.

The Top 50 recruit, who is in Venice Beach, Calif., to play in Saturday night's BOOST Elite 24 game, couldn't be reached for comment. NCAA rules don't allow Wildcats' coach Jay Wright to say anything until a recruit officially signs his national letter of intent, which couldn't have happened until November.

Goodman was supposed to be part of a 2012 recruiting class that includes Ryan Arcidiacono, a 6-3 point guard from Neshaminy High School, and Daniel Ochefu, a 6-9 center from Westtown School in West Chester.

The sources described the situation as being "very complicated." The cell phone for Goodman's aunt, Heather, has been disconnected. There is no word on how much communication there has even been between Goodman and Villanova of late, and some have suggested that a third party could actually be involved.

ANC coach Kevin Givens also seemed to be on the outside looking in.

"I really can't confirm anything on the storyline," he acknowledged Saturday afternoon. "It's kind of unfortunate, not hearing anything. I just got a phone call from Wake Forest and Virginia Tech, but I've got a message to Villanova as we speak. I'm also trying to get through to Savon, and his aunt and uncle. They haven't told me they were planning on decommitting. So I'm just waiting to hear from those guys."

There's also speculation that Goodman won't be returning to ANC this year because of his academic standing. And that he might not be able to start college until 2013 instead of 2012.

"Well, here's the thing," Givens said. "We won't know until school starts sometime next week. But my thinking, and I can't confirm this, is that he will not be back.

"The reason is exactly what people have said, because of the academic approach that we have. That's a priority for us, so there may be something to that."

The strongest recent rumor is that Goodman is headed for Constitution, a budding force in the Public League.

When asked by text early this evening whether Goodman, who lives in Southwest Philly, is definitely enrolled at Constitution, coach Rob Moore offered a one-word response: "Yes."

Villanova, which just had junior forward Isaiah Armwood transfer (to George Washington), is also reportedly in the mix for Amile Jefferson, a 6-8 senior power/wing forward from Friends Central who's considered one of the 15 best prospects in the class. The word is that Goodman was trying to convince Jefferson, who's also playing in the BOOST game, to listen to Villanova even though the Wildcats at that time didn't have any more scholarships available. That of course is no longer the case. Jefferson has already visited North Carolina State, has scheduled a trip to Ohio State and is also planning another one to Connecticut. Temple, Maryland and Stanford are also recruiting him.

Ted Silary contributed to this report.