Nick Richards will be the second player in the John Calipari era to ball for the Kentucky Wildcats from the Patrick School in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The other one certainly did pretty well for himself. He won a national title became the No. 2 overall NBA Draft selection; that would be Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
Richards is ranked in the top 20 by the major recruiting services, including ESPN (No. 12), 247 Sports (No. 13), Scout (No. 16) and Rivals (No. 19). 247 Sports tabs him as the second-best center in the class. He’s a consensus five-star prospect. Nick Richards is projected #18 overall in the Draft Express NBA mock draft.
Richards said that he developed his athletic ability from soccer, track and field and especially the high jump. On the soccer pitch he played both midfield and goalkeeper.
He’s a big follower of Cristiano Ronaldo and his favorite team is CR7’s Real Madrid.
“I sometimes stay up and watch them play,” Richards said during our exclusive with him at McDonald’s All-American Game Media Day.
This is the exemplar of “game recognizes game” right there.
Real are coming to America again this summer, as they’ll be the opponent in the MLS All-Star Game. The event takes place on August 2nd at Chicago’s Soldier Field. Maybe the 6’11’ center from Hillside, New Jersey will make the trip? Or maybe not as he’s not a big Major League Soccer guy.
“I tried to watch a Red bulls game watch, but I was busy doing something,” he said.
Kentucky has signed 60 McDonald’s All-Americans since the team began in 1977. Kentucky has absolutely dominated the McDonald’s All-American Game during the Calipari regime. We asked Richards what makes Coach Cal such a tremendous recruiter.
“He’s one of the most honest coaches I’ve ever met in my life,” Nick Richards responded.
“He keeps it real with you. He’s not going to tell you any lies, he’s not going to tell you, oh you’re the best player in the world, he’s going to tell you- you’re going to get in the gym, you’re going to work you’re going to figure it out.”
Kentucky Wildcats in the McDAAG Feature Story Links
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and NBC Chicago.com, contributes to Chicago Tribune.com, Bold, WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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