Tennessee Basketball Draft Picks In The Millennium
By Seth Norris
Mar 7, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Josh Richardson (1) brings the ball up court against South Carolina Gamecocks guard Duane Notice (10) at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
6. Josh Richardson (Yet to be determined)
Richardson will be drafted in the second round. Do I know this for sure? Obviously not, but you have to think it’s hard to pass on someone with the work ethic of Josh Richardson late in the draft.
The guy came in as a recruit that nobody honestly expected to ever be the best player on the team, and a NBA prospect. However, the guy could defend his freshman season, and that’s what got him some major minutes as a freshman.
Richardson’s progression from season to season is nothing short of incredible, and shame on you if you think otherwise.
His freshman season he averaged two points per game in 16 minutes per game; seven points a game as a sophomre in 30 mpg; then ten points a game as a junior with the explosion in the NCAA Tournament. We all know what he did this past season. Being asked to run the point guard position, be at the top of the match-up zone, and get double teamed himself.
Richardson deserves at least a shot.
Will he be able to score in the NBA as rookie? No, he is not ready for that yet. However, the guy is a proven perimeter defender that any team can use, and as he showed at Tennessee, the scoring can develop.
Expect someone like the Pelicans, Thunder, or Grizzlies to take a shot on a guy who has been impressing in his workouts with a late second round pick.