Heading into the open periods this past April, Dylan Painter was a relative unknown when speaking of the high-major platform. Sure, programs like Georgia Tech and Penn State were involved, but it wasn’t until his play in front of the throngs of coaches that made the Hershey High big man a well-followed and offered big man in the 2016 class.

Standing at 6-foot-9 and with the body that should really develop in the coming years once the Pennsylvania native hits a college weight room, Painter showed off a bevy of upside and contributing skills on the hardwood. The 5-man has great hands and touch around the basket, the body to take and handle contact within the trenches, and the improving ability to step out and hit the deep ball off the pick-and-pop. With all this in mind, programs like NC State, Iowa, Xavier, and Pitt were more than willing to chase after the big fella. However, it was the in-state Villanova Wildcats program that won out.

Jay Wright’s crew was the last to enter the mix as they offered the Hershey High big man on August 3, the day that his grassroots teammate on the Team Final crew, Tone Carr, committed to the perceived leader for Painter in the Penn State basketball program. After taking a visit to the Philadelphia campus at the end of last month and upon completing his official to Happy Valley last weekend, Painter decided it was time to end things on Wednesday afternoon by committing to the Big East program.

Speaking on his commitment, it was the general feel for the school that made the Hershey High center give a verbal to the successful program. “I thought it was the best place for me as a student, basketball player, and as a person. The whole culture around the program made me feel that it can help me reach my full potential.”

While Painter might not be relied upon from the start to be a go-to producer down low, he should develop nicely as an interior force and work nicely with his fellow classmate, 2016 MacDuffie School big man Omari Spellman, as both can stretch out the defense with the deep ball, yet are tough and strong enough to score inside.

Another quality get for Villanova as they move forward and replace the frontline in the 2016 and it seems that the fit couldn’t be better, for player and for the school.