'Nova's Arcidiacono signs with Spurs, Ochefu with Wizards
The two senior starters who led Villanova to the national championship didn't have to wait very long after the NBA draft to find work in the league.
The two senior starters who led Villanova to the national championship didn't have to wait very long after the NBA draft to find work in the league.
Guard Ryan Arcidiacono confirmed Friday he has agreed to terms with the San Antonio Spurs. According to a few reports and a tweet from Wildcats coach Jay Wright, center Daniel Ochefu will be joining the Washington Wizards.
The San Antonio Express-News reported that Arcidiacono, who was named most outstanding player of the Final Four, will sign a two-year deal that is partially guaranteed with the Spurs.
Arcidiacono said that when he worked out for the Spurs earlier this month, he felt comfortable there.
"I felt good about the coaches and the organization and the practice facility, but I didn't know what to expect," he said Friday. "I was sitting with my parents and my siblings [Thursday night] watching the draft and thinking I would have my best chance with the Spurs."
He said that he spoke with Spurs general manager R.C. Buford after the draft and that he will be heading to San Antonio on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-3 Arcidiacono, who made the pass leading to Kris Jenkins' buzzer-beating basket that gave 'Nova the win over North Carolina in the championship game, averaged 12.5 points and 4.2 assists and owned an assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly 2.8-to-1 for the Wildcats.
He became the first player in program history to score more than 1,500 points and hand out more than 500 assists, coming up with 1,604 points and 535 assists.
"I'm really happy for Ryan that he's going to be part of a proud and successful organization like the San Antonio Spurs," Wright said in a statement. "Ryan had a great workout with the Spurs, and from conversations with them I know they were following him all year. I think they value Ryan's strongest characteristics, which are teamwork and great effort."
The 6-11 Ochefu, who like Arcidiacono played all four years for Villanova, averaged 10.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks last season. He scored 1,015 points in his career with 929 rebounds.
Ochefu will be on a Wizards summer league roster that is expected to have two other big men, 7-foot Kaleb Tarczewski of Arizona and 7-foot-1 Jaleel Roberts, who played last year in Australia.
"I think the Wizards offer a great opportunity for Daniel," Wright said. "In talking with them during the year, they liked his leadership skills and his ability to defend and rebound."
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