Grad transfer G Joe Cremo chooses Villanova over Texas, others

Next season’s Texas Longhorns basketball team won’t feature the sharpshooting ability of Albany Great Danes graduate transfer guard Joe Cremo, who announced on Tuesday morning that he’ll play his final year for the Villanova Wildcats:

The Horns were a finalist for the 6’4, 185-pounder and hosted him for an official visit the weekend of the Orange-White game. However, the recent entrance of Villanova and Kansas into his recruitment was not a good sign for Texas. Cremo unsurprisingly opted to stay close to home and play for the national champions.

After scoring 17.8 points per game and hitting 45.8 percent of his three-point attempts, Cremo profiles as a significant contributor as he makes the jump to a higher level of play. Unfortunately, that won’t be in Austin.

The most optimistic read on the situation from the Texas perspective is that the recent addition of Courtney Ramey and the lack of an NBA Draft Combine invite for Kerwin Roach II increased the odds that he will return for his senior season, reducing the need for Cremo. Whether that’s actually the case remains to be seen, but this news does increase the important of getting Roach back.

If Roach returns, Texas would have one scholarship remaining, which would go to Andrew Jones if he’s capable of playing. Jones hasn’t posted any recent videos on the basketball court, but he has been back in Austin handing out around the facilities and attending JMBLYA with his teammates last weekend.