Villanova Univeristy Athletics

Villanova
An experienced forward with length who runs the floor, rebounds, and blocks shots … A selfless teammate who can contribute in a variety of intangible areas … Joined the Wildcats in the summer of 2023 with two seasons of eligbility after beginning his career at the University of Kentucky.

2023-24 Overview
Appeared in 33 games as a reserve, averaging 10.5 minutes per contest ... Connected on .483 of his field goal attempts.

2023-24 Postseason Highlights
Contributed two assists and two rebounds in 6:32 of a 70-61 loss to VCU in the National Invitation Tournament on March 20 at Finneran Pavilion.

2023-24 BIG EAST Regular Season Highlights
Added four points and four rebounds to a 75-47 win over Georgetown on Feb. 27 ... Dealt with a non-COVID illness prior to VU’s game at UConn on Feb. 24 ... Collected five rebounds on Feb. 20 in a 72-62 win over Butler ... Blocked three shots to go with six rebounds in a 68-50 win over Providence on Feb. 4 ... Registered a season-high eight points to go with six rebounds in a Jan. 12 win over DePaul ... Contributed six points, two rebounds and a blocked shot in an 84-48 win at DePaul on Dec. 23 ... Did not see any action at Creighton on Dec. 20 after battling an illness earlier in the week .

2023-24 Non-Conference Highlights
His 19:18 minutes at Kansas State on Dec. 5 was a season-high ... His seven rebounds on Dec. 2 vs. Drexel were a season high ... Collected four rebounds and added a steal to a 57-40 win over Maryland on Nov. 17 .... Scored two points and added two rebounds in 14 minutes of a 90-63 win over American on Nov. 6.
 
2022-23 Overview
Played in 28 games, including six starts … Averaged 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game … Went for four points and five rebounds in win at Arkansas … Totaled a season-high 30 minutes with six boards, six points and three assists at Missouri … In his six starts this season, he averaged 5.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 1.0 steals and shot 59.1% from the field … Played 14 important minutes for the Cats against UCLA, scoring two points and had season highs in rebounds (5) and assists (3) … Had a career-high 12 points and added a pair of blocks in the win over South Carolina State … Posted a game- and career-best four steals to go along with four points and three rebounds against Howard.
 
2021-22 Overview
Named to the 2021-22 SEC Community Service Team … Appeared in 28 games in his second season with the Wildcats … Missed three due to injury … Registered career highs in points (42), blocks (11) and field-goal percentage (66.7%) … Led the team in blocks in four games … Played a season-high 16 minutes and snared six rebounds in the SEC Tournament semifinals vs. Tennessee … Tied his career high with a pair of steals, while also adding three rebounds in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals against Vanderbilt … Had four points and a season-high seven rebounds in the home win over Florida … Tallied four points and four rebounds in 10 highly effective minutes at Kansas … Had two points and four boards in the overtime win over Mississippi State … Scored two points and snatched five boards in the win over High Point … Had five points and three boards in the SEC opener against Missouri … Scored four points against North Florida.
 
2020-21 Overview
Key reserve for the Wildcats who added physicality and quality rebounding … Appeared in 21 games and made three starts … Scored 41 points, hauled in 63 rebounds, totaled 11 blocks, corralled six steals and dished out eight assists … Led the team in rebounds in two games and in blocks twice … Also paced the team in steals once … Produced a pair of double-figure rebounding efforts … Grabbed four rebounds in the Southeastern Conference Tournament game against Mississippi State … Played 29 minutes and recorded a career-high eight points, 10 rebounds and a career-high three blocks at No. 18/17 Missouri … Totaled seven points and a pair of rebounds in the win over LSU … Scored four points, had four rebounds and logged a block, a steal and an assist in the loss at Auburn … Notched four points, a career-high 13 rebounds and a career-best four assists in the double-overtime win at Mississippi State … Posted four points, four rebounds and a blocked shot at Louisville … Breakout game came against No. 22/21 North Carolina with four points, seven rebounds and two steals in 21 minutes of action … Scored his first career point with a free throw against Georgia Tech … Had five rebounds, two blocks and a steal in his collegiate debut against Morehead State.
 
Camden High School
Led high school team to a 29-1 record his senior season … Averaged 11.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks for a team that won its final 25 games … Squad claimed the South Jersey, Group 2 championship and the No. 1 spot in the final NJ.com Top 50 rankings … Named the NJ.com Player of the Year and was a NJ.com All-State First Team selection … Averaged 11.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game during the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League in 2019 … Also performed well at the Peach Jam finals in 2019, averaging 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game … Selected to the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic … Four-star prospect ranked as high as No. 36 in the class by Rivals … Coached at Camden by Rick Brunson, father of Wildcats’ legend Jalen Brunson.
 
Personal
Born Feb. 8 in Edgewater Park, New Jersey … Parents are Monique Ripka and Stephen Ware … Has two siblings, Shataya and Stefon …  Lists his parents as his life’s greatest influences  … Listens to Drake before games …