Fordham freshman guard Eric Paschall will transfer to Villanova, as first reported Thursday morning by SNY.tv.
He will have to sit a year per NCAA transfer rules and will be eligible for the 2016-17 season. The 6-foot-6 Paschall later made the news official on Twitter.
I have officially committed to Villanova University!!!!! #NovaNation ⚪️????⚪️????
— Eric Paschall (@Epaschall4) April 23, 2015
Today is a great day to be a Villanova Wildcat!!! #NovaNation
— Jay Wright (@VUCoachJWright) April 23, 2015
Paschall recently cut his list to five schools — Villanova, Providence, Florida, Kansas and Fordham. He has visited Villanova and Florida.
“We’re happy that it’s all over and Eric can focus on school and basketball,” Juan Paschall, the player’s father, told Pat O’Keefe of News 12.
Asked why he chose Villanova, Juan said, “Distance, education and basketball. Love the coaching staff – [they are] young and energetic.”
The elder Paschall also told News 12 that Eric might have transferred even if Tom Pecora were still the coach.
“Still would’ve been a possibility,” he said.
After the coaching change at Fordham, he asked for permission to speak with other schools.
On Wednesday, Paschall was named the Met Basketball Writers Association Co-Rookie of the Year alongside Seton Hall’s Angel Delgado.
The 2015 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, Paschall averaged 15.9 points, tenth in the conference and tops among all Atlantic 10 freshman. He was also fourth in the NCAA Division I in freshman scoring and led the team with 45 three-pointers made. Paschall, who was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week twice in 2014-2015, opened his collegiate career with 31 points and ten rebounds against New York Tech, setting a Fordham record for most points by a freshman in his debut.
Photo: Fordham Athletics
