Barring a change of heart, Quentin Richardson will announce at a news conference early next week that he is staying at DePaul for his sophomore year.
Richardson would not discuss his decision Tuesday, but a source said the Blue Demons’ star freshman–named freshman of the year by the U.S. Basketball Writers–probably wouldn’t enter the NBA draft this year.
“He feels good about it,” the source said. “There will be plenty of time for the NBA. He can work on his game this summer and do different things. Be a kid for a little while longer. Q’s a good kid. He doesn’t need to be distorted. Look at the NBA. It’s a tough place.”
DePaul coach Pat Kennedy met with Richardson and his sister, Rochelle, more than a week ago but said he walked away from the meeting not knowing what his leading scorer would do. Richardson said he made his decision with his family late last week.
“While coach was out of town (at the Final Four), my sister and my dad and I talked about it every now and then, and then we came to a decision,” Richardson said.
But he hasn’t told Kennedy what that decision is. If history is any guide, Kennedy might not find out until everyone else does next week. Kennedy didn’t find out that Richardson had chosen DePaul over Kansas last year until Richardson announced the decision at a news conference.
Kennedy spoke with Rochelle Richardson on Tuesday, but she would not give him any indication whether DePaul would have its top player back next season. She said Richardson would address the issue at a news conference next week at Alumni Hall.
“We’re going to sit down and talk about a few things and we’ll just put all this to rest,” Rochelle Richardson said.
During the season Kennedy talked with many NBA general managers and scouts about Richardson’s pro prospects, and most said he would help himself by staying in school another year. Many said Richardson would go anywhere from the 15th to the 20th pick if he came out this year.
Kennedy relayed that information to the family, but Rochelle Richardson has done her own research as well, interviewing several NBA officials. She said they gave her similar information.
Of her brother’s decision, she said, “I think it’s the best one for him.”
Underclassmen have until May 16 to declare for the NBA draft, but even if they do, they can pull back from their decision as long as they haven’t hired an agent.
Richardson, who starred at Young High School, was named player of the year in Conference USA after averaging 18.9 points and 10.5 rebounds a game. But he struggled at times late in the season.
“We just thought the last six or seven games we didn’t see the things that needed to be seen,” the source said.
Richardson, also named the nation’s top freshman by The Sporting News and Basketball News, and his family apparently have decided that he’ll progress more if he plays shooting guard next season for DePaul, the position he’ll likely play in the NBA. At 6 feet 5 inches, he played small forward his freshman year.
“None of these young guys are ready to go,” the source said. “They should take a look at Larry Hughes and Tim Thomas. None of those guys have done that well. Larry Hughes is not getting many minutes.”
