The 6'4" senior guard from Lorton, VA is going into his third season with Villanova, but it seems like he's been here forever given the college landscape and the coaching turnover. It's seemingly impossible to go back to the way things used to be under Jay Wright, but both Perkins and Matt Hodge are doing their best impressions. So, it felt right to start with them (and Perkins specifically) in this preview.
When Perkins transferred from Penn to Villanova after his freshman year, many wondered how his game would translate. The Wildcats were going into year three of the Kyle Neptune era, with that season ultimately being the make-or-break year. Perkins' 22 points against Villanova was a driving factor behind the Quakers' 76-72 upset over 21st-ranked Villanova in the non-conference, but it's always a question when players go up in competition from the Ivy League (we will have similar questions about Jake Fiegen this season).
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Perkins had a serviceable season as a sophomore, averaging 6.3 points per game in 25.8 minutes per contest. Perkins' season is best remembered for his game-winner against St. John's, which kept feint hope alive for an NCAA-Tournament berth. That season, Perkins was the only reliable player coming off of the bench for Neptune.
Once Kevin Willard took over, it was understandable if Perkins wanted to look elsewhere. Thankfully for the Wildcat faithful, he didn't, as he decided to run it back under a new coach. After losing the entire starting lineup from the 2024-25 season, Perkins was confidently written into the starting lineup. But it was fair to say that nobody knew how much of the scoring responsibility he was ready to take on. The answer was a lot, as Perkins averaged 13.7 points per game last year (good for 11th in the Big East). Not only did his points more than double from the prior year, but his efficiency also went up across the board.
Now going into year four (and year two under Willard), expectations are through the roof for Perkins. After only being named to the All-Big East Third Team a year ago, the goal should be for Perkins to make First Team this upcoming season. The talent around him has unquestionably increased for this year, but Perkins should be able to play more of his natural position this season: shooting guard. The additions of Devin Royal, Kwame Evans Jr. and Luigi Suigo into the starting lineup will slide Perkins down to the two-guard spot, which will be a cheat code for Willard on both ends of the floor.
On the offensive side, Perkins will now be guarded by shorter players, where he will be able to use his strength advantage in the painted area. On defense, the 6'4" guard can now defend shorter players on a more regular basis, while also retaining his ability to switch onto bigger players. Especially in lineups with Elijah Crawford at the point, Willard should be able to switch most ball screens if desired. But the biggest advantage here will come with Perkins' ability to rebound from that spot, as he routinely outrebounded bigger players a year ago. Perkins was 15th in the Big East in rebounds per game at 5.4, despite his height.
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Willard saw how difficult life was a year ago with the smaller roster, especially once Hodge went down with a torn ACL. He set out to get more size and strength this offseason, and he was successful in that mission. But none of that works as well without Perkins, who will be the ultimate chess piece this year. His counting stats might not be what they were a season ago, but his fingerprints will be all over the Wildcats' success this upcoming year. Now cleared for everything but contact work after his offseason shoulder surgery, Perkins is primed for an all-conference performance in 2026-27.
