Tyler Perkins making All-Big 5 First Team feels like something Villanova fans have seen before.
For those who value every box out and contested rebound at the Finn, seeing a gritty 6-foot-4 guard earn top honors in the city is a familiar sight. Ten years ago, Josh Hart used a junior season on the All-Big 5 First Team as the foundation for a legendary senior year.
Hart’s junior stat line: 15.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, shooting 51.3% from the field, 35.7% from three, and 75.2% from the line.Perkins’ junior stat line: 13.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, shooting 44.0% from the field, 36.9% from three, and 74.5% from the line.
Their stats look eerily similar, and the way they play is pretty much a mirror image, too. Perkins spent this past year matching Hart’s junior production while embodying the same “Nova Grit” that defines the program’s identity, especially under new(ish) head coach Kevin Willard.
This All-Big 5 recognition is more than just an award because it serves as a legitimate catalyst for a 2026-27 breakout. Hart parlayed his junior-year accolades into becoming the Big 5 and Big East Player of the Year as a senior, and Perkins has now established a similar status in the Philadelphia landscape.
He plays a downhill style of basketball that exhausts opponents. He combines a high motor with a unique ability to out-rebound players half a foot taller than himself. This honor validates his role as the primary engine of the roster. With Perkins officially returning for his final season, this acknowledgement could be exactly what he needs to keep the momentum going for him to transition from a reliable starter to the next Wildcats star.
The connection between Perkins and Hart extends beyond the box score and into the culture of the fan base. Villanova fans have a deep respect for players who aren’t afraid to play a physical brand of basketball, and Perkins has claimed that role.
He has evolved from an Ivy transfer with potential into the heartbeat of the team. He’s a fan favorite who impacts winning through effort alone. Nova doesn’t sniff the NCAA Tournament last year without him.
The 2025-26 season was about Perkins proving he belongs among the city’s elite. This next season is now positioned to be his coronation. If he follows the Hart blueprint to its conclusion, his senior year could be the force that carries Villanova back to the promised land.