Two former Villanova Wildcats are making headlines in Gary Parrish's Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the 2026 season—but they're doing it in different uniforms. For fans on the Main Line, it's a bittersweet reminder of the transfer portal's sting.

Last season was supposed to be the foundation of the Kevin Willard era at Villanova, and to his credit, Willard got everything he could out of his young backcourt. Acaden Lewis, a smooth left-handed guard, shattered a 41-year-old freshman record with 176 assists, surpassing Kenny Wilson. Bryce Lindsay, meanwhile, was the team's sharpshooter, providing crucial 3-point shooting and dropping 25 points in the NCAA Tournament loss to Utah State.

But in today's college basketball landscape, "foundational" is a fleeting term. Instead of running it back at the Finn, both guards have moved on to programs now sitting in the national spotlight—while Villanova remains unranked.

Lewis has taken his talents to Miami, which checks in at No. 20. The irony isn't lost on anyone: Hurricanes head coach Jai Lucas, who nearly landed Lewis twice before, finally secured his commitment. The 6-foot-2 guard joins a Miami squad that returns a veteran core built for the high-octane, transition basketball where his elite playmaking thrives. While Lewis still needs to improve his free-throw shooting (58.3%) and 3-point accuracy (27%), his ability to get into the paint will likely make him a household name in the ACC by January.

Then there's Lindsay, who took his 37.7% career 3-point percentage to Indiana, ranked No. 21. In Bloomington, the guard becomes the tactical weapon second-year head coach Darian DeVries desperately needed to fix the Hoosiers' spacing issues. Lindsay will thrive as a veteran floor-spacer, benefiting from the gravity created by Notre Dame transfer Markus Burton and his 1,315 career points.

It's a tough pill for Wildcats fans to swallow: two players who helped Willard navigate the choppy waters of Year One are now key pieces for way-too-early top 25 teams—just not in Villanova blue.