Syracuse, N.Y. โ Could former Syracuse guard Cadary Richmond return to play for the Orange?
Ever since Mount St. Mary's guard Dakota LeFew chose Georgia State over Syracuse, Orange basketball fans have been actively trying to make a statement about Richmond's return to the Dome.
I am with them on this matter.
College head coach Adrian Autry can't afford to let Richmond enter the portal without a reunion.
Richmond could be the missing piece if the Orange are to overcome the odds and return to the NCAA Tournament.
A physical guard with experience and size (6-foot-6, 210 pounds) who can bulldoze opposing defenses, facilitate offense, and wreak havoc on defense and rebounding?
Yes, please.
Richmond, a native of Brooklyn, New York, is coming off a season in which he averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists, was named to the All-Big East First Team and led the Pirates to the NIT title. Richmond had 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists in the NIT Championship Game against Indiana State.
He's currently stuck in basketball purgatory, with a return to Seton Hall meaningless and a jump to the NBA potentially premature.
“He's got to improve his jump shot, he's got to play a little harder defensively, but he's going to get a chance to play at the next level,” ESPN's Fran Frascilla said on the NIT telecast. Told.
Now, the portal is calling again to offer Richmond a chance at redemption and riches.
St. John's is reportedly involved in Richmond. Many schools have offered to help, including Duke University, Kentucky University, Villanova University, University of Illinois, University of Oklahoma, and Florida State University. According to ESPN, he has no shortage of options as the portal's highest-rated player.
Richmond's imposing six in the backcourt includes returning starter JJ Sterling, freshman sharpshooter Elijah Moore, “pass-first” transfer Jaquan Carlos, and returning players Chance Westley and Kyle Cuff Jr. Adding a win-six-loss frame is persuasive.
Richmond's steal that led to the break included a lob pass to 6-11 transfer center Eddie Lumpkin for a dunk and a dish to freshman forward Donnie Freeman (rated a top-six prospect by ESPN) for a dunk. Let's imagine it for a moment. Whether it's an acrobatic move to the hoop, a kickout to Chris Bell for a 3-pointer, or Richmond's own drive to score.
Does Syracuse have a chance here?
Syracuse assistant Allen Griffin first scouted Richmond at Syracuse. Both are from Brooklyn, and sources told syracuse.com that the two remain in touch.
Even if Richmond were to return to play at Syracuse, it would still be close to home. This is reportedly an important factor for him in order to be close to his mother.
Syracuse has to hope it's not all about the money. That's because while they can compete in the NIL joint space with some of the schools listed, they can't outright surpass top guns like Kentucky and Duke.
There's also the question of what fences need to be mended for a return to Richmond to become a reality.
Syracuse had a special experience during his one season in Richmond in 2020-21. The freshman guard averaged 6.3 points and 3.0 assists and led the team with 46 steals as the backup point guard behind Joe Girard.
Former Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim clashed with a sports radio caller and questioned Richmond's conditioning at the time, ultimately leading to Richmond seeking a better opportunity in the portal and finding it at Seton Hall. Ta.
Of course, Boeheim is no longer the coach at Syracuse, but he still maintains an office inside the Rally Center, where you can hear the echoes of basketballs bouncing in the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Facility.
The Hall of Famer praised Richmond's game late in the season, calling him an NBA player.
“He's a great college player,” Boeheim told NJ.com in early March. “I don't know how many players in college are better than him. If there are, it might be just a few. What he does is better than anyone.”
It's a redemption story made possible thanks to an atmosphere that feels like a combination of fantasy sports, free agency, and the TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway,” where the rules are made and the points don't matter (though cash is important).
Is there a Syracuse? need Richmond?
It can be argued that this is not the case, but there is a fine line between the two. needs and wish In today's college basketball transfer race.
Syracuse has also been out of the NCAA Tournament for three seasons due to the lofty #OrangeStandard set by Adrian Autry.
In today's college sports, patience is thinner than wet tissue paper. The Bluebloods program operates on a replaceable roster with a one-year expiration date.
The question is not whether Richmond can return, but rather why. shouldn't Will Syracuse aim for a reunion?
stay tuned.
Contact Brent Ax: Email | X | Voicemail 315-552-1964