LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky forward Nick Richards will enter the NBA draft and forego his final season of collegiate eligibility by signing with an agency.
The 6-foot-11 junior is the latest starter from the Wildcats to go professional. He just had a standout season where he was honored as a first team All-Southeastern Conference selection by The Associated Press and the league’s coaches. He saw a significant improvement in his scoring average per game, increasing by 10 points from his sophomore season to 14.0 in his junior season. He started in 30 out of 31 games, contributing to the Wildcats’ (25-6) achievement of the SEC regular season title. However, the postseason was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Richards ranked fourth nationally with a shooting percentage of 64% and was also named to the SEC all-defensive squad, averaging 7.8 rebounds and 2.13 blocks per game.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Richards from Kingston, Jamaica, expressed his gratitude towards his Kentucky coaches and teammates for his consistent progress. He declared his intention to chase his ultimate aspiration of becoming an NBA player and asserted, “My time at Kentucky has prepared me for this step.”
Richards’ announcement was made one day after leading scorer Immanuel Quickley declared for the draft. Last week, guards Ashton Hagans and Tyrese Maxey also turned pro, with Hagans making his decision on Sunday.
