After a Monday stop in Bloomington, Indiana to visit the Hoosiers, Robinson told InsideTheHall.com that he plans to sit down with his family and coaches this week and hopefully make a decision by Friday. The decision is coming relatively early for the 46th-ranked player in his class.

“Indiana’s definitely high in my decision, but so is Villanova and some other schools,” Robinson said to the Indiana blog.

Robinson also has offers from Marquette, Miami, NC State, Seton Hall, USF, Virginia and Wake Forest, but it seems like Villanova and IU are among his favorites.

He also had some great things to say about Indiana in his interview with InsideTheHall.com. He praised the Hoosiers’ coach Tom Crean and noted his existing relationship with new IU assistant coach Kenny Johnson, who had recruited him to play at Paul VI in his previous position.

According to 2013 Center BeeJay Anya’s (an AAU teammate) twitter account, Robinson reported that he had a very good time at IU, and it sounds like he was impressed.

Robinson is a left-handed shooter with good range and adequate size to play the 2-guard in college at 6-4 and 175 pounds. He acts as more of a combo guard at the high school and AAU level, but would need to improve his point guard skills more to be considered an option at the 1 in college. His length will be an asset defensively.

Update 10pm: Robinson has picked Indiana, per an announcement on Twitter.

The decision now gives Jay Wright the ability to focus his recruiting on the Class of 2013 and beyond.

It’s no secret that players recruit each other. Coaches have limited contact with the prospective student-athletes under NCAA rules, but their contact with each other isn’t controlled at all. It isn’t often talked about, but Jay Wright asking his incoming point guard to try and land a shooting guard in the class afterward isn’t unique to Villanova.

Arcidiacono ran into elite players and Villanova targets at AAU events, high school games and at showcases like the Mary Kline Classic. Why not take advantage of that?

“I’m definitely going to talk to some of these younger kids just to get Nova in their head and to get them thinking about it,” he said about underclassmen at the Mary Kline Classic. Wayne Selden, Jermaine Lawrence and Karl Towns were among the blue-chip prospects that were at the recent event for Arcidiacono to talk to.

He will also get a shot at the Harrison twins, Julius Randle (’13), Jarnell Stokes (’15), and Troy Williams (’13) when he attends the USA Basketball under-18 National Team camp from June 5-12 this summer. Jay Wright would love to bring some of those talented young players on board, and you can almost be assured that the Wildcats coach would love to have Arcidiacono talk up his program while he’s out in Colorado Springs.

It also wouldn’t hurt if Arcidiacono were on the lookout for some talented ‘Nova targets on the practice court. If he can make a talented wing like Williams want to play with him, it makes it a lot more difficult for that player to choose another school.

Maalik Wayns also did some recruiting for Villanova, and was reportedly influential in convincing Dominic Cheek to come to the Main Line. The two guards became very close and Wayns’ influence played a role in Cheek’s decision.

Can Arcidiacono become one of Wright’s best recruiters?

According to articles out this week, both have a chance to break out and have an impact for the Wildcats next season.

Jon Rothstein of CBS included Johnson on his list of ten likely “breakout” players for the 2012-13 season:

With both Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek opting to bypass their senior seasons and enter the NBA Draft, Johnson is now Jay Wright’s primary ball handler. The 6-foot-3 sophomore possesses good size, solid instincts, and showed major promise during a stretch in the middle of the season when Wayns’ was injured. Look for Johnson to be one of the Big East’s most improved players as he attempts to lead Villanova back into the postseason picture.

Rothstein’s assumption that Johnson will be a primary ball handler this season is at odds with the probability that Wake Forest transfer Tony Chennault will likely at least share those duties in the coming season — if his hardship waiver is granted. Johnson will also see competition from Arcidiacono, who is himself a talented point guard and possibly the biggest fish in ‘Nova’s 2012 recruiting class.

That doesn’t mean that Johnson won’t play in 2012-13 or that he would necessarily come off of the bench. He might, but so might the other two point guards. Johnson could be moved to shooting guard, either temporarily or permanently, because of it. Even a shooting guard for Jay Wright will ideally be able to play like a point guard.

Though Johnson’s role is in question, his development as a scorer and defender will be vital to the Wildcats.

Jay Wright is probably going to put Archy on the floor for  plenty of minutes as a freshman, even if he doesn’t start him — though that possibility isn’t unlikely either. In addition to being able to handle the ball and play point, he brings a skill to the table that Villanova had been missing in last season’s abysmal showing: shooting with range.

In a recent interview with Slam Online, he said that he expects to perform well shooting:

Hopefully I shoot really well—38 percent, 40 percent from three and maybe in like the 80s at the free throw line. I’m just hoping to lead the team. Whether it’s Tyrone Johnson or me or anyone else bringing the ball up the court, hopefully I can just get my teammates involved. I’m not really worried about what I shoot—I’m just hoping to get everybody involved.

Arcidiacono may get others involved, but even if Wright asks him to contribute off-the-ball, he will be the best shooter on the team. That means that even after the ball has left his hands, he will need his teammates to give it back to him when he is open for an outside shot. Daniel Ochefu and Markus Kennedy came to Villanova will a reputation as big men who can also pass the rock, and either of them could be helpful to make Arcidiacono more effective, but he will also need Ty Johnson and Tony Chennault to keep him in mind when they control the ball.

Early next month, Arcidiacono will head to the Team USA under-18 camp with hopes of making the roster for an international tournament in Brazil this summer. If he makes the team, he will come to campus in July and join the offseason program at that time. If he is cut, he will move to Villanova’s campus in June, during the first summer session.

“I’m planning on making the team, but if for some reason I do get cut at least I have a scholarship to go play at Villanova,” he told Slam. “It’s kind of a win-win situation but you’d always like to make the team.”

Fans, media and coaches all seem to have great expectations for both Ty Johnson and Ryan Arcidiacono next season. With that in mind, if Johnson doesn’t become the player that Jay Wright believes he will be, or if Arcidiacono struggles to acclimate to the college game, it could spell trouble for the Wildcats. Then again, with both breaking out next season, Villanova could have a quick turnaround after a terrible season.

Whose baseball cap will Amile don at 4PM today?

B.J. Johnson on 'Guts'

B.J. Johnson was a guard from Greensboro, North Carolina, who played for Villanova between 1999 and 2002, averaging 0.5 points per game for his career and less than 5 minutes per contest. While he didn’t light things up in Villanova’s Pavilion, he was a great competitor in Nickelodeon’s Extreme Arena, where he took home a piece of the famous “Aggro Crag.”

(thanks to Sean Donovan for the video)

Sources close to the program have denied that there have not been any changes to the coaching staff at the moment. Doug Martin did visit Villanova recently with one of his players, Stanford Robinson, who plays for him at Paul VI.

Martin had been an assistant coach and Director of Player Personnel for the LaCrosse (Wis.) Bobcats of the minor-league CBA. He also played professionally in Australia and South America after concluding his playing career at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 1995.

Martin will help Wright’s recruitment efforts with players in the “DMV” area, comprised of Washington D.C. and its immediate suburbs in Virginia and Maryland. It is similar to the hiring of Keith Urgo out of Gonzaga High School in 2007 to become a video coordinator and later Director of Basketball operations (Urgo was also briefly promoted to assistant coach).

Until further notice, however, it seems that there is not much to this story.

Happy Mother’s Day… Terry Toohey of DelcoTimes reports that “Tony Chennault, the 2009-10 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year, gave his mother, Crystal Morton, an early Mother’s Day present Tuesday [when he announced he will transfer to Villanova. “I still have to go out and get her something big,” Chennault said. “She expects that.” Morton [who has health issues] is the reason Chennault decided to transfer after two years at Wake Forest.  “I wanted to be more accessible,” Chennault said. “She’s happy. I’ll get to see her more and she’ll be able to come to my home games.”  Still, leaving Wake Forest was not easy.  “My girlfriend is at Wake, my best friend is there and I’ve made a lifetime of friends, but in the end this was something I had to do in the best interest of my family,” he said.  [Editor's Note: Here's a list of gifts Terry should NOT buy his Mom this for Mothers' Day.]

New Rule Makes Coaches Drool… CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein writes, “The NCAA’s new rules allow teams to practice [starting in June for up two hours each week] once kids are enrolled in summer school.  That should do wonders for off-season development.”

The Call of the Wild…  CBS’ Jon Rothstein also is hearing that “NC State is going to be tough to beat for the services of Friends Central consensus Top 25 forward Amile Jefferson, who is set to announce his college decision next week.

Sporting News quotes Jefferson saying, “I definitely didn’t think it would take me this long, but it’s been a great process and I’m honored that these schools would stick with me so long.”  Jefferson has long considered NC State and Duke the frontrunners. Kentucky is making a late push. He also lists Ohio State and Villanova as options, too. “I know he’s more concerned about the system of play,” said Jefferson’s high school coach, Jason Polykoff “How does it fit him?”

Less Filling vs. Tastes Great… Dante Cunningham’s Memphis Grizzles defeated Randy Foye’s LA Clippers last night 90-88, knotting the series and forcing a decisive game seven in Memphis at 1:00 PM on Mothers’ Day.  Through six games, Randy is averaging 8.0 PPG, 1.8 APG and 2.3 RPG.  Dante is averaging 1.0 PPG and 1.3 RPG, playing almost eight minutes per game.  However, Dante leads in Superstar Facials and Flop Assists.

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer… ESPN’s Dana O’Neil, writes, “we are coming off a Final Four where as much was made about the rift between Rick Pitino and John Calipari as the X’s and O’s battle between Louisville and Kentucky. It’s not so easy [for college coaches] to be friendly anymore. There’s just too much at stake.  Friendships and relationships still exist, particularly among the generation that came up in the 1970s. “I think guys like Bill Self, Jay Wright, Tom Izzo and me were brought up by those old-school guys,” Notre Dame Coach Mike Brey said. “The next generation of guys …  I’m not so sure. There’s such a ruthless charge to move up in the business and the money is so big now, so I’d question whether friendships are as strong with them.”

Free JayVaughn…As first reported yesterday by Brian,  Carl Hessler of the JournalRegister separately reports that “JayVaughn Pinkston appeared in court Thursday but nothing was settled in the case where he’s accused of assaulting another [Villanova student] during a 2010 off-campus party in Upper Merion.  Pinkston, through his defense lawyer James Famiglio, requested in Montgomery County Court that action on his case be postponed again because he is still being considered for admission to a special probationary program. It’s the third time the case has been postponed at the request of the defense, according to court records.  Pinkston remains free on $2,500 unsecured bail while he awaits trial.  He could face a possible maximum sentence of one-to-two years in jail.”

Best in the Big Show… Andrew Sweat of Yahoo Sports writes, “Villanova University has one of the most successful men’s basketball programs in NCAA history. The Wildcats have reached the NCAA Tournament 32 times, advancing to the Final Four on four occasions, including the 1985 national championship.”  Which Wildcats does Mr. Sweat think went on to have the best NBA careers?  Here’s his list by statistical category:

• Points Scored:  “Hall-of-Famer Paul Arizin finished among the NBA’s Top-10 in PPG nine times in his career, including leading the NBA in scoring in 1952 and 1957. Arizin’s career 22.8 PPG average is 23rd on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.”  Honorable mention:  Tim Thomas and Jim Washington.
• 3-pointers:  “Tim Thomas‘ 962 career 3-pointers rank 76th on the NBA’s all-time list.”  Honorable Mention:  Kerry Kittles, Randy Foye and  Kyle Lowry.
• Assists:  “Rory Sparrow averaged a career best 6.8 APG in 1984 with the New York Knicks.”  Honorable Mention:  Bill Melchionni and Chris Ford.
• Rebounds:  “Jim Washington‘s career 8.6 RPG average is 90th on the NBA’s all-time list.”  Honorable Mention:  Paul Arizin and Ed Pinckney
• Blocks:  “Ed Pinckney was never a big-time shot blocker, averaging just 0.5 BPG throughout his 12-year NBA career [but still the best among former Wildcats].”  Honorable Mention:  Tim Thomas and Kerry Kittles.  “Memo to the Villanova recruiting staff: Sign a big man who can block some shots at an NBA level!”
• Steals:  “Chris Ford finished among the NBA’s Top-10 in SPG three times, including 1976 (5th), 1977 (7th), and 1978 (8th).”  Honorable Mention:  Rory Sparrow and Kerry Kittles.

Garcia to ‘Bama’s Bench:  The University of Alabama announced that former ‘Nova women’s basketball star, Clarisse Garcia, has joined the Alabama staff as  assistant women’s basketball coach.  “Garcia previously served as the head coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University, an NCAA Division II institution in West Palm Beach.  Prior to Palm Beach Atlantic, Garcia spent one season as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Stetson University. Garcia graduated from Villanova in 2007. Throughout her four-year career with the Wildcats women’s basketball team, she was a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team member and captain her senior season, leading the Wildcats advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2004 and the Women’s NIT in 2005 and 2006.”

Latest Wisdom from BleacherReport… Josh Schoch published his list of the most important recruits in the history of college basketball.  Coming in at #13 is Villanova’s Ed Pinckey (1981-85).  About Easy Ed, Mr. Schoch writes, “Standing at 6’9″ and just 195 pounds, Pinckney was not a powerful forward, but he was versatile, and created mismatches.  An All-American in 1983, Pinckney led Villanova to four NCAA tournaments, three Elite Eights and the school’s only NCAA tournament Championship.  Pinckney led Nova to one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history, [defeating Georgetown for the 1985 NCAA Championship], and the No. 8 seeded Wildcats remain the lowest seed to win it all.  [Editor’s Note:  Who was #1 you ask?  Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Abdul Jabbar).  No argument there.  A couple notables not on Mr. Schoch's list:  Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing, North Carolina’s Michael Jordan, Indiana State’s Larry Bird, and Villanova’s Howard Porter.  Your turn G-Drizzle.]

Look Back At The Play of ‘Nova’s Targets at the Mary Kline Classic … Alex Schiffer of NBE Basketball writes, “One of the hottest names from the previous two weekends in the April open evaluation period in the Class of 2013 in NYC native Jermaine Lawrence of Pope John XXIII in Sparta (NJ). The 6-foot-9 PF Lawrence scored a game-high 27 points in the underclassman contest of the Mary Kline Classic, earning one of the two MVP honors.  “Cincinnati, Rutgers, St. John’s, UCLA [and] Florida have been looking at me, Miami as well,” said Lawrence.  “UConn and Villanova programs are among the new schools quickly entering the mix following his April performances.”

Mr. Schiffer  further reports that”St. Patrick’s DeAndre Bembry also drew plenty of recruiting interest at the MKC. Vanderbilt and Georgetown showed interest in me,” said Bembry on Saturday night. “Villanova just offered me.  “I’m going to try and visit UCF, Georgetown and Villanova.”  Jaren Sina, the 6-foot-1 point guard out of Gill St. Bernard’s in New Jersey produced 10 points and 14 assists in the all-star game contest Saturday night, sharing game MVP honors.   “I’m probably visiting Pitt, Michigan [and] maybe Villanova.”

Just Keeping the Seat Warm… Associate Press reports that The Big East’s interim commissioner, Joseph Bailey III, said he does not want the Commissioner job permanently and believes it will take about three to four months for the conference to find a replacement.  In the meantime, he said he’s seen no split between football and basketball schools, and said the Conference is working to dispel any perception that it is unraveling following the ouster of John Marinatto, who resigned this week amid pressure from Big East presidents. “I can tell you just from being in the meetings that I’ve been in, it’s not at all. It’s a very cohesive, very focused group.  [Editor’s Note:  if you want to go on believing that, do not read the next paragraph.”

I Love the Smell of Napalm in the Morning … ESPN’s Andy Katz writes, “Whoever ends up landing the new Commissioner gig will inherit quite a mess.  Among the many issues facing the Conference, “there remains a desire among some member schools to leave. Multiple sources with direct knowledge of their situations told ESPN.com that Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich told the Big East board of directors that the Cardinals want to be in the Big 12 or the ACC, opting for transparency by making members aware of his school’s true intentions.  Connecticut, meanwhile, states publicly that it wants to stay in the Big East, though a number of UConn sources have said privately that they want to be in the ACC with Notre Dame. The Irish have so far publicly remained committed to independence in football and the Big East in all other sports.”  [Regarding football vs. basketball schools, “there is no movement to orchestrate a split.  The most powerful basketball-centric university in the Big East is Georgetown and the Hoyas aren’t interested in splitting up the league. Basketball can survive and flourish with Louisville, UConn, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Villanova, St. John’s, Marquette, Cincinnati, Memphis and Temple anchoring the league. But take Louisville and Connecticut out, and, according to the Big East source, “the whole thing implodes. Then the basketball schools will be reactive, rather than proactive.”

Where Did We Go Wrong?  Writes ESPN’s Andrea Adelson, “Was it shortsighted presidents who got the Big East into this mess? Or was it a fundamental lack of leadership and vision from the man in charge to get everybody to buy in? The schism between basketball and football members has always been there, but what has become increasingly evident is that Marinatto was powerless to stop the growing gap. Marinatto couldn’t reconcile the differences among the Big East’s football and basketball schools.”

According to the University of Pittsburgh, their athletic director had begun discussing a 2013 exit with Marinatto, but when the commissioner resigned, the conference offices stopped responding on the issue. The Panthers’ program had been scheduled to leave the conference a year later on July 1, 2014, based on conference bylaws, but West Virginia’s early release and the conference’s new additions have encouraged Pittsburgh and Syracuse to seek an early exit as well.

The lawsuit surprises many because it was widely believed that the early exit of the two schools heading to the ACC would be granted by the conference.

On the suit, Pitt released the following statement:

“Since the University of Pittsburgh made the decision to join the Atlantic Coast Conference, we have done everything possible to move through a smooth transition with the Big East. Though we have been excluded from governance activities, meetings, decision-making and operational functions of the conference, we have been positive and respectful of the Big East.

“On September 26, 2011, when we notified the Big East that we were withdrawing from the conference, we paid the first half of the exit fee of $5 million. When the 2012-13 season is complete, we will have competed in the Big East for two seasons, thus providing ample time to re-form the Big East Conference for the future. Beginning with the 2013-14 season, the Big East will actually have four more football playing schools and more schools overall than when we gave notice that we were moving to a different conference.

“Although the Big East’s stated position is that we must stay through the 2013-14 season, the Big East acknowledged publicly that a discussion of our departure after the 2012-13 season was appropriate. A few weeks ago, Steve Pederson met with John Marinatto to begin the process to work toward an exit after this upcoming academic year. The Commissioner indicated that he was doing this with the authorization of the Chair of the Big East Presidents. However, attempts to contact the Big East in the following weeks to move the process forward have been unsuccessful, leading us to conclude that negotiations would not occur. Given the change in leadership of the Big East and the lack of response to our attempted contacts, on Friday, May 11, 2012, we filed a law suit in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, seeking resolution of this matter. We are confident in our position as stated in the complaint, but believe that this matter is best resolved between the parties. We have notified the Big East of this action, and continue to hope that our departure can be accommodated through private negotiations.”

The Panthers claim to be concerned that the conference may try to hold them and Syracuse to their full withdrawal period, causing them to file the lawsuit. The suit was filed in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, but don’t count on another parallel suit in the Providence courthouse (the conference could file a motion to transfer the case to a Philadelphia courthouse, but that may be denied). The Big East will most likely prioritize exit negotiations with Pitt and Syracuse and settle this suit out of court. Like West Virginia, the Panthers will have to pay money in excess of the $5 million withdrawal fee, but their early release is likely to be granted.

James Famiglio, Pinkston’s attorney in this matter, has requested another postponement of the trial because the ARD status of his client remains unresolved. That postponement was granted by Judge Thomas C. Branca yesterday — for the the third time on the defendant’s motion.

ARD is a probationary program that allows first time offenders to avoid the criminal justice system. Instead, the court orders conditions, such as community service, restitution, or counseling that must be completed during a period of supervision. Participants in the program are not convicted of a crime and can have their arrest record and ARD record expunged 30 days after completion.

It is normally available for non-violent crimes, but the decision whether to offer the program to an individual made by the District Attorney.

Pinkston remains free on $2,500 in unsecured bail until his case is disposed of by the court. He was charged with two counts of simple assault and harrassment (one charge of assault was dropped) after a November 2010 fight that took place outside a fraternity party in Upper Merion Township. He has plead not guilty to those charges.

In the meantime, it appears that Pinkston is still living off-campus while his matter is resolved.