By ZACH SMART
As a 6-foot-7 hard-slashing and quick-twitched, bouncy combination player, Class of 2024 NJ Scholars guard Billy Richmond has been hearing from an array of highly prominent programs.
Richmond averaged 30 points during the recent Philly Live event, putting an explanation mark on his three-game performance with a wild 40-point eruption. Possessing boundless energy on both ends of the floor and turning in extravagant above-rim finishes, the crafty lefty brings unique positional size. “I was just trying to win, honestly,” Richmond said of his performance. “I will do anything to win. I play hard and I’m a defense-first guy. Right now, I am trying to work on my jump shot and get it to the point where it is more consistent.” UConn, Memphis, Kentucky, Alabama, Michigan, Kansas, Miami, Cal, Villanova, Kansas State and a barrage of other programs have offered Richmond. He cited Memphis, Kentucky, Kansas, UConn, and Alabama as programs which have been most consistent as of late. Playing at national power Camden High (NJ), Richmond showed promise last season.
He had a 19-point, 10-rebound game during a thorough 87-44 throttling of Camden Catholic. Richmond scored 18 points to go with five boards and four assists during a 90-54 bludgeoning of Bishop Gorman. An active ingredient on the glass, Richmond turned in multiple games of double digit rebounds. His thorough surges to the rim and presence on the offensive and defensive boards were noteworthy, especially during a 77-43 victory over West Catholic (PA), as he submitted 16 points and 13 boards. With electrifying guard DJ Wagner and 7-foot-1 double double threat Aaron Bradshaw opening up the next chapter of their careers under John Calipari at Kentucky, Richmond inherits some ownership of this Camden HS team next season.
Both Richmond and Camden head coach Maalik Wayns, the former Villanova guard who played 10 years professionally, want it that way. “Coach (Wayns) just wants me to fill in the big shoes, to become a leader,” Richmond explained. “It is going to mean getting my teammates involved and being vocal. Just doing the little things on and off the court. He is just trying to make me a better person, as well as a better basketball player.” Richmond broke down some of the schools recruiting him: Memphis: “They have been heavily involved with me. Coach Penny (Hardaway) and some of his assistants. I have been talking to them consistently. They have really been just checking in on me, telling me they are watching my games and contacting me after the game. They are building the relationship, checking in on me and seeing how I am doing.” Kentucky: “Coach Chin (Coleman), he is trying to get me to go up there on an official visit. I’m looking to go up there during Midnight Madness, when all the students are back on campus. They play a style where they get up with the ball and run, attack and drive. That is really my game, I like to play off that.” Kansas: “Coach (Norm) Roberts, he saw me at Philly Live recently. They were just telling me how I fit their game and their style of play. Coach Roberts, he told me that I’m a heck of a player and to just keep playing the way I’ve been playing and sustain it.” UConn: “Coach Kimani (Young), he has just been talking to me about my game. He is building the relationship. He told me about a lot of the coaches on staff and their background. I have been getting to know them, which has been cool.” Alabama: “I speak with coach (Nate) Oats a lot. He told me I reminded him of (current New Orleans Pelicans forward) Herb Jones, who he coached. He told me that coming in, Herb couldn’t shoot and that I shoot way better than him (laughs). He told me that I have defensive potential and that I fit their game style very well. I could be a big point guard there.” Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on Facebook
Richmond averaged 30 points during the recent Philly Live event, putting an explanation mark on his three-game performance with a wild 40-point eruption. Possessing boundless energy on both ends of the floor and turning in extravagant above-rim finishes, the crafty lefty brings unique positional size. “I was just trying to win, honestly,” Richmond said of his performance. “I will do anything to win. I play hard and I’m a defense-first guy. Right now, I am trying to work on my jump shot and get it to the point where it is more consistent.” UConn, Memphis, Kentucky, Alabama, Michigan, Kansas, Miami, Cal, Villanova, Kansas State and a barrage of other programs have offered Richmond. He cited Memphis, Kentucky, Kansas, UConn, and Alabama as programs which have been most consistent as of late. Playing at national power Camden High (NJ), Richmond showed promise last season.
He had a 19-point, 10-rebound game during a thorough 87-44 throttling of Camden Catholic. Richmond scored 18 points to go with five boards and four assists during a 90-54 bludgeoning of Bishop Gorman. An active ingredient on the glass, Richmond turned in multiple games of double digit rebounds. His thorough surges to the rim and presence on the offensive and defensive boards were noteworthy, especially during a 77-43 victory over West Catholic (PA), as he submitted 16 points and 13 boards. With electrifying guard DJ Wagner and 7-foot-1 double double threat Aaron Bradshaw opening up the next chapter of their careers under John Calipari at Kentucky, Richmond inherits some ownership of this Camden HS team next season.
Both Richmond and Camden head coach Maalik Wayns, the former Villanova guard who played 10 years professionally, want it that way. “Coach (Wayns) just wants me to fill in the big shoes, to become a leader,” Richmond explained. “It is going to mean getting my teammates involved and being vocal. Just doing the little things on and off the court. He is just trying to make me a better person, as well as a better basketball player.” Richmond broke down some of the schools recruiting him: Memphis: “They have been heavily involved with me. Coach Penny (Hardaway) and some of his assistants. I have been talking to them consistently. They have really been just checking in on me, telling me they are watching my games and contacting me after the game. They are building the relationship, checking in on me and seeing how I am doing.” Kentucky: “Coach Chin (Coleman), he is trying to get me to go up there on an official visit. I’m looking to go up there during Midnight Madness, when all the students are back on campus. They play a style where they get up with the ball and run, attack and drive. That is really my game, I like to play off that.” Kansas: “Coach (Norm) Roberts, he saw me at Philly Live recently. They were just telling me how I fit their game and their style of play. Coach Roberts, he told me that I’m a heck of a player and to just keep playing the way I’ve been playing and sustain it.” UConn: “Coach Kimani (Young), he has just been talking to me about my game. He is building the relationship. He told me about a lot of the coaches on staff and their background. I have been getting to know them, which has been cool.” Alabama: “I speak with coach (Nate) Oats a lot. He told me I reminded him of (current New Orleans Pelicans forward) Herb Jones, who he coached. He told me that coming in, Herb couldn’t shoot and that I shoot way better than him (laughs). He told me that I have defensive potential and that I fit their game style very well. I could be a big point guard there.” Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on Facebook
