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Coveted point guard Jalen Brunson picks Villanova

Jalen Brunson unzipped his black sweatshirt. He had tucked his college choice underneath. The heavily recruited high school point guard revealed a white Villanova T-shirt, declaring his oral commitment to the Wildcats.

Jalen Brunson. (Credit USA Basketball)
Jalen Brunson. (Credit USA Basketball)Read more

Jalen Brunson unzipped his black sweatshirt. He had tucked his college choice underneath. The heavily recruited high school point guard revealed a white Villanova T-shirt, declaring his oral commitment to the Wildcats.

Brunson made the announcement at a Wednesday news conference at his suburban Chicago high school. The 6-foot-2 lefthander spent last weekend on an official visit to Villanova and chose the Wildcats over Illinois. Before narrowing his choices, Brunson also considered Temple, Connecticut, Kansas, Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue.

He is rated as a five-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals, making him Villanova's first five-star recruit since Mouphtaou Yarou committed in August 2008. Brunson averaged 26.1 points and 4.7 assists last season in guiding Stevenson to the Illinois Class AAAA state semifinals.

He planned to visit Temple this weekend but canceled after visiting Villanova. Brunson's parents met at Temple in the 1990s. His father, Rick, starred on the basketball team, and his mother, Sandra, played volleyball.

"I knew that [Villanova] was my parents' rival school," Brunson said. "I'm not sure if I had anything in common with them, but I didn't like them growing up. I knew they were a real good program and had a lot of big-time players and big-time guards."

Brunson will join a talented Villanova backcourt headed by junior point guard Ryan Arcidiacono. Even though he and Arcidiacono play the same position, Brunson said, he thinks they can be on the court together.

Rick Brunson was expected to join Fran Dunphy's staff this summer as an assistant coach. Temple's plans changed after Brunson was arrested in June and charged with sexual assault after an alleged incident at a fitness center near the family's suburban Chicago home. The Owls wound up hiring Aaron McKie, who played with Brunson under John Chaney.

Jalen Brunson grew up in South Jersey and lived there until his father's pro career ended in 2006. The family moved seven times as Rick Brunson climbed the coaching ranks.

The Brunsons moved to Illinois in 2010, when Rick was hired as an assistant with the Chicago Bulls.

"I consider this home now," Brunson said. "New Jersey will always be my home, where I'm from. But this is the longest place I've lived in 10 years. It's been fun."

Drexel adds a guard. DeMatha Catholic (Md.) senior point guard Terrell Allen committed to Drexel on Tuesday night after a visit to his home by Dragons coach Bruiser Flint. The 6-2 Allen also had offers from Boston University, St. Peter's, and Towson.

@matt_breen