Gilchrist: ‘I Like Villanova a Lot’

Michael Gilchrist, the No. 1 junior in the nation and arguably the top high school prospect overall, says he is considering six colleges.

The 6-foot-7 Gilchrist of Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick lists Oregon, Villanova, Texas, Kentucky, Michigan and Georgia Tech, according to Alex Schwartz of the NBE Basketball Report.

“I like Villanova a lot,” Gilchrist said.

A native of Somerdale, N.J. , Gilchrist has been to Villanova several times and was at the Wachovia Center Monday night when UConn upset the No. 3 Wildcats, 84-75, on ESPN’s “Big Monday.”

Former St. Patrick star Corey Fisher, a Bronx, N.Y. native, is currently a junior on Jay Wright’s team.

He has also been linked to Kentucky because William Wesley, aka “Worldwide Wes,” is a family friend and is also close with Kentucky coach John Calipari.

“Michael loves Villanova,” Cindy Richardson, Gilchrist’s mother, told the Philly Inquirer last summer. “It’s Kentucky, Villanova. Villanova, Kentucky.”

Gilchrist scored 28 points last Friday night when St. Patrick lost to Oak Hill Academy, 79-78, in the PrimeTime Shootout in Trenton, N.J. That same day, the Celtics were banned from the New Jersey state tournament after the NJSIAA ruled that the program had held six out-of-season workouts last October.

Gilchrist came back Saturday night and scored 20 points and grabbed 10 boards in a 74-56 win over Manhattan Rice. He was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player.

“It was alright,” Gilchrist said of the Primetime Shootut. “We went – really tough loss [to Oak Hill], it was alright, this weekend was cool. I did fine.”

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(Photo courtesy Philly Inquirer)