Darrun Hilliard II Leads The Way For A Villanova Team Aiming For A Top Seed
By Danny Cox
Name: Darrun Hilliard II
University: Villanova
Year: Senior
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 215 lbs.
Hometown: Bethlehem, PA
Position: Guard
Villanova is sitting at 27-2 and in first place in the Big East Conference. They've run through virtually every team that has stood before them and they've done it by sharing the basketball and getting everyone on the team involved. Still, they need leadership and it has come in in the form of senior guard Darrun Hilliard II.
The young man from Liberty High School was a two-time Associated Press first team All-State choice. As a senior, he averaged almost 20 points a game and finished second on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,413 career points.
His parents, Charlene Jenkins and and Darrun Hilliard, were extremely proud when he signed a national letter of intent to attend Villanova in late 2010. Upon getting to the school, he brought forth an immediate impact and the university knew that they had gotten a very special player.
In Hilliard's collegiate debut against Monmouth, he finished with nine points, three rebounds, and two assists in a 106-71 Villanova win. During his Freshman year, he played in 29 games while starting nine of them and finishing the year with a 4.8 points-per-game average.
That was only the beginning of what he would be able to do.
During that 20-4 run? Hilliard scored 14 of them on his own and he finished the night with a game-high 24 points.
The man they have given the nickname of "Money" proved again that he won't give up on himself or his team and he will lead them as far into the NCAA Tournament as humanly possible. It looks as if he may also end up leading an NBA team in the future.
Danny Cox knows a little something about the NFL, whether it means letting you know what penalty will come from the flag just thrown on the field or quickly spouting off who the Chicago Bears drafted in the first round of the 1987 draft (Jim Harbaugh). He plans on bringing you the best news, previews, recaps, and anything else that may come along with the exciting world of the National Football League. Danny is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.