Jase Richardson is sticking with the NBA Draft.
After declaring for the NBA Draft as an early entry in April, Richardson had until midnight Wednesday to withdraw his name and keep his NCAA eligibility. That deadline passed and Richardson remains an eligible prospect to be selected in this year’s NBA Draft, one who could go a variety of spots in the first round.
Richardson’s agency, CAA Sports, posted a photo of its draft class on its Instagram account Thursday with Richardson included. Richardson reposted it to his account.
In his original declaration, Richardson wrote with a tone of finality regarding his decision. The past month and a half of the NBA Draft process didn’t change his mind. He ends his Michigan State career having joined last season’s roster as a freshman coming off the bench, developing into the Spartans’ best player by the end of the season en route to third-team, All-Big Ten honors and a selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman team. Michigan State finished the season 30-7 in the Elite Eight, having won the Big Ten championship.
“This is an exciting step in my journey, and I’m looking forward to see what GOD has planned for me,” Richardson wrote in his draft declaration April 8. “I’m forever grateful to the Spartan community for all their support throughout the season and honored to be a Spartan Dawg.”
Various mock drafts project Richardson to go somewhere in the first round, ranging from as high as the 10th pick to as low as the 20s. Richardson’s scoring ability and efficiency are central to his game. He’s a three-level scorer who can draw a lot of fouls with contact, averaging 12.1 points and 1.9 assists per game across the entire season. He shot 49.3% from the field, 41.2% on 3-pointers and 83.6% on free throws, strong percentages. In 15 games as a starter, he averaged 16.1 points and 1.7 assists per game. At the NBA Combine, a low height measurement at 6-foot-0½ showed an area NBA teams may see as a concern, though the 19-year-old has time to grow.
Wherever he goes in the draft — held June 25 at Barclays Center in New York City — Richardson would be Michigan State’s first player picked in the draft since Max Christie went No. 35 overall to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022. He’s the first one-and-done since Christie as well.
Twenty-three Michigan State players have been drafted into the NBA in Tom Izzo’s career as head coach, including the likes of Draymond Green, Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Randolph and Gary Harris. Richardson’s father, Jason, was a member of the 2000 Michigan State national championship team and went on to a 13-year NBA career after being selected by the Golden State Warriors fifth overall in 2001.
cearegood@detroitnews.com
@ConnorEaregood
Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here.
