Jase Richardson listed as top 20 prospect in ESPN's latest NBA Draft 'Big Board'

USA Today

a day ago

Jase Richardson listed as top 20 prospect in ESPN's latest NBA Draft 'Big Board'
Jase Richardson is officially off to the NBA with the draft withdraw date passing earlier this week -- so how does he stack up compared to the rest of the NBA Draft class? ESPN NBA Draft expert Jonathan Givony has an answer for that with the draft only a few weeks away.
Givony released an updated NBA Draft "Big Board" of the top 100 prospects, with Richardson landing near the top of the list. Givony ranks Richardson as the No. 20 overall prospect in the NBA Draft, which aligns with where he's been typically landing in mock drafts.
Here's what Givony had to say about Richardson:
"Size and outlier physical tools typically rise in the predraft process, which might push Richardson down the board after measuring under 6-2 in shoes, 178 pounds with a 6-6 wingspan at the NBA predraft camp. Richardson would be somewhat undersized for an NBA point guard, but played more of a combo guard role for Michigan State, even if his performance the past two months of the season showed his potential when thrust into a more significant shot-creation role.
His pace, skill level, feel for the game and shot-making prowess give him an outstanding framework to build on, especially with the defensive intensity and selfless style he brings.
With several guards expected to come off the board in the second half of the first round, and perhaps a limited appetite among teams to absorb all of them, there will be considerable jockeying in this part of the draft as prospects look to position themselves through private team workouts."
Richardson starred for the Spartans in his lone season in college, averaging 12.1 points per game and shooting better than 40% from 3-point range. The first half of the season he primarily came off the bench as a key reserve, but he was inserted into the starting lineup for the final two months and quickly became the Spartans' top player en route to a Big Ten championship and Elite Eight run in the NCAA Tournament.
The NBA Draft will be held on June 25-26, with the first round on the first day and the second round on the second day. The NBA Draft will be televised on ABC and ESPN.
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