Kadary Richmond is one of many players throughout the country playing in his fifth season of college basketball, but none have had an impactful of an individual career as the current St. John’s basketball guard.
Richmond recorded his 700th career rebound in No. 12 St. John’s win over No. 11 Marquette (18-5, 9-3 Big East) on Tuesday night and became the only active college basketball player to have at least 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, and 600 assists.
He ended the night with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in the 70-64 victory.
“I think Shaheen Holloway did a fabulous job of preparing him,” Rick Pitino said after the game.
The Seton Hall transfer is now averaging 12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 2.0 steals per game with the Johnnies, leading the team to its best start since 1984-85.
“He has taken his conditioning level to an all-time high. He can play a whole game without getting tired,” Pitino added. “That wasn’t the case. He doesn’t take plays off.”
“You’re seeing a well, well-oiled conditioned basketball player who makes big plays.”
Richmond’s numbers are slightly down this year compared to his final year with the Pirates but his impact on the floor has remained the same. His block on a 3-point attempt from Parham Royce with 1:11 remaining as the Red Storm (20-3, 11-1 Big East) led by seven might have been his most impressive play of the night.
“We are nowhere near done,” Richmond said on Tuesday night. “We got more games to play.”
It was a great start to the toughest stretch of the season for the Johnnies, but they will take its nine-game winning streak on the road with a short turnaround for its first meeting of the season against No. 19 UConn (16-6, 8-3 Big East) on Friday night (8:00 p.m. ET, FOX) inside Gampel Pavilion.