Villanova junior forward Cole Swider to enter NCAA transfer portal

The 6-foot-9 Swider played in all 25 games for the Wildcats this season, averaging 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds with 35 three-point baskets. He shot just over 40% on threes.

Cole Swider was second on the team in three-point shooting.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer

by Joe Juliano

Updated April 1, 2021, 8:54 a.m. ET

Published March 31, 2021, 2:51 p.m. ET

Villanova’s Cole Swider, a junior forward who provided three-point shooting off the bench for the Wildcats, will enter the NCAA transfer portal, the men’s basketball program announced Wednesday.

The 6-foot-9 Swider, of Portsmouth, R.I., appeared in 77 games in his three seasons with the Wildcats. He played in all 25 contests this season, averaging 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 18.8 minutes. His 40.2% mark from beyond the arc ranked second on the team, and his 35 three-point baskets were fourth.

“Cole has decided to explore his options in the transfer market and we are fully supportive of his decision,” Wildcats coach Jay Wright said in a statement. “Throughout his time with us, Cole has done everything in his power to become the best Villanova basketball player he can be. He’s been a great representative of our university and we will work with him as he navigates this process.”

Swider later took to Twitter with the news.

“I would like to thank Coach Wright for giving me the opportunity to play for such a great University, to all my teammates and coaches for the bonds and memories that we made over my 3 years,” he said. “With that being said, I will be entering the Transfer Portal. THANK YOU VILLANOVA.”

Swider drilled five three-pointers and scored a total of 15 points in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament but saw action on the court for only 10 minutes and did not score in the Cats’ Sweet 16 loss to Baylor.

For his career, he averaged 5.2 points and shot 35.2% from deep. His career high of 26 points, with a personal-best six threes made, came in the 2019 Myrtle Beach Invitational against Middle Tennessee.

If Swider goes through with his plans to transfer, he will become the first player to leave the Wildcats since guard Jahvon Quinerly, who transferred after the 2018-19 season and enrolled at Alabama.