Pirate Preview: Simeon Wilcher

Published: Friday, September 25, 2026

by Caitlin Barrar

As Shaheen Holloway’s team gears up for another season with almost all brand-new faces, a New Jersey native is coming home.

 

The 6’3” senior guard Simeon Wilcher, a Plainfield, New Jersey native and Roselle Catholic star, transfers to South Orange after being a key player in an eight-man Texas Longhorns rotation that made it to the Sweet Sixteen last season.

 

Wilcher averaged 4.2 points, 2.1 assists, and shot 32.5% from the field in 18 minutes per game for the Longhorns during his junior season. After starting routinely during his sophomore year, he transitioned into a heavily utilized bench role in his lone year at Texas.

 

Pirates fans may remember Wilcher from his time with Big East rival St. John’s. In his two seasons in Queens, he played a pivotal role in capturing the Red Storm’s Big East Championship and the two seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2025. Wilcher understands Big East toughness and brings plenty of postseason experience to this Pirates squad. 

 

Before joining nearby St. John’s, Wilcher originally committed to North Carolina out of high school. The McDonald’s All-American flipped to the Red Storm because he wanted to play for Rick Pitino and be closer to home.  

 

Upon initially signing Wilcher, North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis had high praise for one of New Jersey’s all-time winningest high school players. Davis emphasized how Wilcher’s combination of athleticism, competitiveness, and excellent on-ball defense makes him a player that complements everyone else on the court.

 

Wilcher fits Holloway's mold of high energy defensive heavy players and has a high ceiling on the Pirates, with a much bigger role expected than this past season. He plays with a great effort and possesses impressive speed, but he struggles with discipline and harnessing his athletic ability, similar to Mike Williams from last year’s Seton Hall squad.

 

A defined role within Holloway’s scheme, along with a return close to home, could help Wilcher gain consistency on both ends of the court. With his defensive ability and experience in high-stakes games, Wilcher has the potential to become an important piece of this Pirates backcourt.   

 

Seton Hall initially pursued Wilcher out of Roselle Catholic. Holloway tried again to recruit him through the transfer portal in 2025. Now, with the departures of Budd Clark and Tajuan Simpkins, Holloway finally landed the local guard. 

 

Wilcher should bring defensive pressure and versatility to a backcourt that will also feature Del Jones and Trey Parker, creating opportunities on offense for the Pirates like they did much of last season. After adjusting to a smaller role at Texas, his return home gives Wilcher an opportunity to become an impactful piece of Holloway’s new-look Pirates.

 

Caitlin Barrar can be reached at caitlin.barrar@student.shu.edu 

Posted in: sports,