Luigi Suigo is about to make his collegiate debut in a place that already feels familiar. The 7-foot-3 Villanova freshman center is scheduled to take the floor Sunday against Notre Dame in Rome, opening the 2026-27 season in front of family and friends in his home country.
Suigo moved to Villanova in late summer after spending last year playing professionally in Serbia, and the trip back to Italy marks his first return since joining the program. For a player with international experience already on his resume, the setting adds another layer to an already notable first game.
On Thursday, Villanova practiced at the multisport PalaFonte facility in Rome, where Suigo spoke to reporters about what it means to be back in Italy. He said it is not his home home, but it is still his country, and he added that the best feeling is understanding what people are saying without his teammates knowing. Jake Fiegen also noted Suigo’s comfort level around the group, saying at the hotel he was instructing teammates not to put meatballs with their pasta.
The Rome trip also overlaps with celebrations involving Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova graduate and the first American-born pope. Suigo said he is not a religious guy, but still called the moment significant because the pope is a Villanova alumnus and, in his words, “he’s the pope.” He added that he is pretty important either if you’re religious or not.
Villanova coach Kevin Willard said of Suigo, “He’s getting there,” a simple assessment that fits the moment. Suigo arrived as a highly regarded international prospect, and the opener against Notre Dame will be his first chance to show how that background translates to college basketball.
For Villanova, the game is more than just the start of a new season. It is a rare opener overseas, a homecoming for one of its newest players, and the first official look at how Suigo fits into the rotation. For Suigo, it is the kind of debut that combines basketball, family and geography in a way few college players get to experience.
