Nov. 14, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. - A trio of nationally prominent seniors have inked national letters of intent to attend Villanova University in the fall of 2009, it was announced today. The group includes forward Isaiah Armwood from Montrose Christian Academy (Rockville, Md.); guard Maalik Wayns of Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School and power forward Mouphtaou Yarou, a native of Benin in the republic of West Africa who also attends Montrose Christian Academy.

ESPN.com ranks the class as No. 2 in the nation.

"We are as excited about this class as any we have brought to Villanova," stated head coach Jay Wright. "This group offers us a unique combination of frontcourt and backcourt talent with exceptional skill and incredible character. The loyalty each of these young men has shown to our program through this process is heartwarming to all of us in the Villanova Basketball Family."

Armwood, 6-8, is a versatile forward who has been a fixture for national prep powerhouse Montrose Christian Academy. He averaged 12 points and eight rebounds as a junior before being sidelined by a left knee injury. It is expected that he will be a key performer in his final prep season for Montrose. He is listed as the No. 35 ranked prospect on ESPNU's Top 100 list.

"Isaiah is an athletically gifted wing player who has played four years for coach Stu Vetter at Montrose Christian Academy," stated Wright. "He has been well-schooled in the fundamentals. We expect him to make an immediate impact at Villanova with his quickness and athleticism."

Wayns is a 6-1 guard who averaged 22.4 points, 5.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game as a junior at Roman Catholic High School. Last summer, he represented the United States as a member of USA Basketball's 18-and-under team that competed in Argentina. He is ranked by espn.com as the No. 22 senior in the country.

"Maalik Wayns is the leader of this class," said Wright. "He was the first one of this group to commit to us and he encouraged his friends Isaiah and Moof' (Yarou) to join him at Villanova. Maalik will be the next in the line of great Villanova guards. We're so proud to have another Roman Catholic Cahillite with us on the Villanova campus."

Rounding out the group of fall signees is Yarou, a 6-9 power forward who in a short period of time in the United States has emerged as one of the nation's most coveted big men - the No. 27 rated senior prospect in the nation according to espn.com. He enjoyed a breakthrough summer on the AAU circuit and will play this season for Vetter at Montrose Christian Academy.

"Moof' is as skilled a power forward as any frontcourt recruit we have had at Villanova," Wright stated. "He is very intelligent, extremely hard working and will be playing for a legendary coach this season in Stu Vetter at Montrose Christian Academy. Moof' will make an immediate impact on our team with his rebounding and shot blocking ability."