Villanova Recruiting: Mikal Bridges and Phil Booth sign

Villanova's 2014 class is finally set in stone. Both Phil Booth and Mikal Bridges have signed their national letters of intent to play basketball for the Wildcats, the university announced on Friday. Bridges and Booth will enroll in the fall of 2014 barring any changes.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Thrilled to officially welcome <a href="https://twitter.com/BIGPhil_23">@BIGPhil_23</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/mikalbridges">@mikalbridges</a> to our <a href="https://twitter.com/NovaMBasketball">@NovaMBasketball</a> family!</p>&mdash; Jay Wright (@VUCoachJWright) <a href="https://twitter.com/VUCoachJWright/statuses/401407174422708224">November 15, 2013</a></blockquote>

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"We're thrilled to officially welcome Phil and Mikal to the Villanova family," Wright said in a university announced press release.

Booth, a 6-foot-2 guard from Mount Saint Joseph's High School, averaged 17 points, eight assists and eight rebounds in his junior season and was a first team All-Baltimore Catholic League selection. Booth was ranked no. 93 on ESPN's top 100 list, 67th on Scout's, and 85th on Rivals and is a top-20 prospect at the shooting guard position. Booth is also listed as a four-star recruit and plays his AAU for Nike's DC squad, Team Takeover.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Phil comes from a great basketball family - he is a classic <a href="https://twitter.com/NovaMBasketball">@NovaMBasketball</a> guard! Excited to have him with us! <a href="http://t.co/BJAwNeTtfn">pic.twitter.com/BJAwNeTtfn</a></p>&mdash; Jay Wright (@VUCoachJWright) <a href="https://twitter.com/VUCoachJWright/statuses/401407541319434240">November 15, 2013</a></blockquote>

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The Booth family holds strong ties to the Philadelphia area. Phil Booth Sr., Philly-native, played at Northeast High School, Gloucester County College and then at Coppin State University for his collegiate ball. In high school, Booth Sr. was an All-Public league selection. At GCC he averaged 15.6 points per game and was regarded as one of the top junior college players on the the East Coast. At Coppin State he played on the Eagles first NCAA Tournament team in 1990.

Wright looks to bring in a strong basketball family.

"Phil Booth comes from a great basketball family," stated Wright in the release. "Phil is a classic Villanova guard and an outstanding student. We feel he is very well prepared for our style of play. Coach (Pat) Clatchey has done a great job with guards. We are excited to have an outstanding player from a prestigious program on the board."

Bridges, a local swingman from Great Valley High School, has been ranked 82nd on ESPN's top 100 list as well as 92nd by Scout and 84th by Rivals. ESPN ranks him top-20 at his position. During his junior season he averaged 20 points and eight rebounds per game for a strong Patriots team that finished 28-4 and a runner-up to the Ches-Mont Championship.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Mikal is a multi-talented perimeter player - proud to welcome his family to ours! <a href="http://t.co/CDjX7lWFb5">pic.twitter.com/CDjX7lWFb5</a></p>&mdash; Jay Wright (@VUCoachJWright) <a href="https://twitter.com/VUCoachJWright/statuses/401408199355400192">November 15, 2013</a></blockquote>

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The Malvern, PA native plays his AAU basketball for a Philadelphia-based squad, Nike's Team Final. Bridges has the aspirations to win a championships before he heads to Villanova next fall. Bridges brings another element of perimeter shooting for the Wildcats next season and adds even more depth to the fourth-ranked team in the preseason Big East poll.

"Mikal is a multi-talented perimeter player that can play a lot of positions for us," noted Wright in the release. "We're proud to welcome him and his family to Nova Nation. He plays for a great coach in Jim Nolan and will be well prepared for the college game."