St. John’s is winning big thanks to Kadary Richmond

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WATCH: Seton Hall fans boo St. John’s guard Kadary Richmond during introductions

WATCH: Seton Hall fans boo St. John’s guard Kadary Richmond during introductions

NEW YORK – In the summer of 2023, Jaden Bediako arrived at Seton Hall doubting himself and suspicious of New Yorkers.

Kadary Richmond changed his mind on both counts.

“Kadary can read people, like a great point guard does,” Bediako said. “He read me and knew I had some confidence issues – that this guy is coming from Santa Clara, didn’t have the senior year he wanted, and now he’s going to a bigger league. Sometimes he would send me a GIF or a meme and say, ‘You’re doing fine, you’re doing well, just be confident.’ Having him believe in me, that’s the greatest thing to have from your point guard.”

Bediako blossomed at center for the Pirates that season. Now back home in Toronto after a stint playing international basketball in Montenegro, he’s watching intently as Richmond leads St. John’s on a dream season that appears poised to continue deep into March – possibly spilling into April.

“I root for him,” Bediako said.

On and off the court, Richmond is one of college basketball’s most complex characters this March Madness. He presents as reticent and distant, a default disposition that shrouds a witty, thoughtful guy. His game can be mercurial but when he’s locked in, as he has been for the last two-and-a-half months, he impacts winning in more ways than maybe any player in college basketball. He left Seton Hall for a better-paying rival, but in a sport that has become dominated by free agency, he seems to feel kind of bad about it. NBA scouts only have moderate interest in him, but when given the chance, he’s taken it to guards and wings who are higher on the draft boards.

In Friday’s Big East Tournament semifinals, Richmond posted 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals and was omnipresent defensively as the Johnnies rolled past Marquette 79-63.

It…

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Publish date : 2025-03-15 12:21:00

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