Sophomore leap has Arkansas coach feeling good after star wing announces return to school next season
There was a strong case to make for Arkansas star wing Billy Richmond III to keep his name in the NBA Draft this summer.
However, his decision to return to the Razorbacks next season has coach John Calipari all kinds of excited about the prospects of his roster build this offseason, according to his post on social media on Saturday.
“I am really excited about Billy [Richmond] coming back and his mentality of let’s do something special,” Calipari said. “Which is what he talked to me about.”
The 6-foot-5 wing man was slotted anywhere between the mid-30s to low 40s for the NBA Draft later this month.
However, he was starting to rise up draft boards by some analysts following his standout NBA Combine performance where he continues to improve his three point shot and his quickness on the floor.
There’s plenty of reasons for Calipari to be optimistic about Richmond’s return, given his emergence as a sophomore from a utility role to do-it-all man on both ends of the floor.
After scoring just six points per game last season, Richmond displayed his improved offensive skillset, especially over the final 16 games of the season.
When a couple of backcourt mates went down to injuries, it gave Richmond the opportunity to rise from quality rotational piece to a near-dominant two-way player whose game could easily translate to the NBA.
Richmond displayed a steady three-point shot while becoming a scoring threat, stringing together five consecutive 20-point performances in February.
His rise helped Arkansas surge to a top-4 seed and win the SEC Tournament Championship over Vanderbilt, which earned the Razorbacks a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
He continued a stretch of stellar play in the postseason by averaging 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals across 33 minutes per game. Richmond shot 63% from the field, 40% from three, but did see his free throw percentage dip a bit at 50% (2-of-4) over three tournament games.
Calipari’s praise for his NBA prospects didn’t end there either as he posted about how proud he was of his dynamite trio of Darius Acuff, Meleek Thomas and Trevon Brazile.
“I am also excited for Meleek who has had great workouts and great interviews,” Calipari said. “But so has Trevon and Darius. I think all three will be drafted in a better slot than people are projecting today. You know I will be on the phone working for all of them and I cannot wait to watch their paths.”
Latest CBS Sports Mock Draft
Acuff leads the way for Arkansas as the unanimous No. 6 player in the draft, according to CBS Sports. and is expected to be drafted by the Sacramento Kings.
As for Thomas, he has been ranked as high as No. 21 leading up to the draft, but is currently being mocked at No. 26 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The second round selections required a bit more digging to find Brazile, but he appears to sit just outside of the first round. He is currently slotted at No. 36 overall to the Chicago Bulls, according to NBA Draft Room.