NBA Comparison: Monta Ellis/Cason Wallace

Strengths: At 6’3 and 185 lbs, Richardson makes great use of his smaller frame… Possesses an elite quick first step that is typically the start of his attack on the perimeter… Richardson has a great change of pace and his ability to kick it into high gear and beat defenders off the dribble before they can react, is potentially his best trait offensively… Options off the drive are plentiful, whether it’s pull-up jumpers or finishing at the rim… Has the current skill set and the ceiling to be an elite three-way scorer in the near future… Richardson has a very quick release on his jump shot and nearly every single shot he takes looks the exact same… Is effective without the ball in his hands, runs around the court after hand offs, off ball screens to create an opening for himself or teammates… He isn’t the biggest guard but can finish through contact at the rim and isn’t hesitant to drive… May not be the flashiest dribber but he does possess a tight handle and can reliably create his own shot while rarely turning the ball over… Has a pro-level shot IQ despite his lack of experience… Knows where his spots are and prioritizes getting to them rather than forcing a shot he’s unfamiliar with. Because of his discipline and patience, Richardson has been able to produce offensively for Michigan State despite a relatively low usage rating this season (18.5%)… On the defensive side, Richardson has a great pairing of speed and court vision to be a great on and off ball pest… Constantly has his head on a swivel, surveying the floor to be ready to attack passing lanes, accurately swipe at the ball and force turnovers… Richardson’s lateral quickness is his best weapon defensively, he’s able to stick to his man and can make quick recoveries… A great free throw shooter (86%) that further showcases his shooter’s touch… Richardson is a player with star potential but even at his floor, would be an ideal role player at the pro level who could be an elite 3 & D two guard…

Weaknesses: Lacks an NBA ready body, still growing into his frame… While extremely quick and able to blow by defenders, Richardson lacks the physicality to deal with players that can match his speed and are bigger than him… Ability to draw fouls and get to the line are average at best, especially for a player who is able to get to the rim so often, would like to see him welcome more contact to prepare for bigger guards at the next level… Not to mention, him being both an average passer/facilitator and slightly undersized for the two guard position could spell trouble if can’t take on bigger opponents head on… His poise as a player can turn into complacency on certain plays, needs to remain aggressive and ready to go all game instead of fading away into the background… Is a great finisher but rarely attempts to finish with his left hand, at the bare minimum some level of ambidextrousness will be needed for Richardson to maintain his efficiency under the basket… Richardson’s low usage rating brings into question if he can maintain the same offensive production if given a bigger role… A scorer as versatile and efficient as Richardson should play a more pivotal role in whatever system he plays in, he’s only finished in double digit shot attempts once this year… This is overall the biggest concern regarding Richardson, as a prospect, there haven’t been too many weaknesses that have been put on display during his time with the Spartans; but, there are unknowns on how Richardson will transition from a secondary ball handler to a being a lead guard who will have the ball in his hands considerably more and will have to continue to make great decisions under even more pressure…

Overall: As the son of high flyer and a Golden State fan favorite, Jason Richardson, the pressure was on the moment Jase Richardson picked up a basketball… But, despite the noise and critics, Richardson became a four-star recruit, a consensus top 25 player in class and committed to his father’s alma mater to once again step up to the plate, and has done exceedingly well… Michigan State lost a lot of its firepower and were projected to finish 5th in the Big Ten by most experts across the nation, but Richardson came in and made an immediate impact… As a true freshman and at only 6’ 3, he is the team’s second leading scorer and debatably the Spartans best player… Richardson plays well beyond his years and has garnered the attention of scouts across the country… He is one of the best three-way scorers in the Big Ten regardless of the volume and has virtually no flaws that can’t be hammered out through a little bit of training… Like every freshman does, he’s hit some rough patches where he struggles to get his shots to fall and his performances aren’t a full reflection of his abilities… But it’s important to recognize he’s made significantly less mistakes than 99% of people his age… On paper, he’s got the skill set, the potential and most importantly, the time to develop into a premier guard at the pro level… We’ve seen what Richardson can do when the ball is in hands and how dynamic of a scorer and a defender he can be, all while letting the game come to him naturally… But ff the only questions about him are his slightly small frame and how he will respond to be given a bigger role, then simply wait until Richardson is put in that role and see how he’ll perform, because it’s inevitable that if he declares for the draft this year, he will not be left off the big board

Isaiah Maldonado 2/17/25