SI.com has been ranking the top incoming freshmen in college basketball this season and Kentucky’s NIck Richards is ranked #17.
For the purpose of this article though, I want to focus on what Richards brings to the table for this year’s squad that last year’s squad just didn’t have.
A shot blocker.
Kentucky’s approach to team-building is predicated on recruiting one-and-dones, which ensures heavy roster turnover every year. Surprise, surprise: There will be a lot of shots and minutes to go around in Lexington this season. Richards, in particular, could step into the frontcourt hole left by the departures of Bam Adebayo and Isaac Humphries to the pros. Kentucky probably won’t lean on Richards for much offense; his scoring repertoire is mostly confined to the basket area, and the Wildcats have several better options. But Richards should be able to help out right away blocking shots and pulling down rebounds. He could thrive as a drive-deterring backline defender who contributes as a rim-runner on the other end of the floor.
The last time we had a guy that concentrated on shot blocking was 2012.
He only had one eybrow.
I am a firm believer that Cal’s teams need someone to protect the rim and this could be the guy that fills that void.
