Jase Richardson won’t be running it back.
As expected, the Michigan State freshman guard is remaining in the NBA draft. College players had until midnight Wednesday to remover their name to return to school but Richardson is moving on after one standout season with the Spartans.
Richardson took over a starting role midseason and helped lead Michigan State to a Big Ten title and 30-win season that ended with a loss to Auburn in the Elite Eight. Viewed as a potential lottery pick, he declared for the draft on April 8 and is coach Tom Izzo’s first one-and-done player since Max Christie, who was picked in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft.
Although the NBA’s deadline to withdraw from the draft is June 15, the NCAA’s was Wednesday for players to remain eligible. Richardson is widely viewed as a first-round pick but with varying projections of when he will come off the board.
As the son of former Michigan State All-American and NBA standout Jason Richardson, he arrived in East Lansing with pedigree but exceeded expectations while emerging as the team’s top player down the stretch. Richardson averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 36 games with 15 starts.
Richardson’s stock rose sharply late in the season while scoring 16.1 per game in his starts and showcasing efficient play on and off the ball. He shot a team-best 41.2 percent from 3-point range (47-for-114) as a crafty three-level scorer.
Following a six-point loss to Auburn in Atlanta on March 31, Izzo said Richardson should explore the draft. The Hall of Fame coach didn’t completely close the door on a return after Richardson declared but it appeared highly unlikely.
“If he goes anywhere near where he thinks he’s going to go, I’m packing a suitcase,” Izzo said last month of joining him for the draft. “I think it’s great and once he interviews, he’s going to move up. Wherever he is, he’s going to move up.”
Richardson earned an invitation to the NBA draft combine earlier this month where he checked in at 178 pounds and 6-foot-0.5 without shoes, after being listed at 6-3 by Michigan State. Although he has a 6-6 wingspan and could still grow, his combine height resulted in dropping in mock drafts. During the event in Chicago, he was asked about potentially returning to the Spartans for a sophomore season, which his dad did after winning a national title.
“It depends what my parents think is a good decision for me,” Richardson said. “If they think (being a projected) top-20 (pick) is the best for me, top 20 is the best. So it really depends on what my parents feel, what the people around me feel.”
The 2025 NBA draft is June 26-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Christie was Michigan State’s last draft pick and the program hasn’t had a player selected in the first round since Miles Bridges in 2018.
Here’s a roundup of where Richardson is projected to be picked in mock drafts:
ESPN:
Pick: No. 16 to Orlando Magic
“Should the Magic keep this pick, drafting a player such as Richardson, who possesses an excellent feel for the game and strong defensive intensity (and hit 41% of his 3-pointers this season), makes sense. His ability to play off the ball alongside two prolific shot-creators in Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero would also be a plus, as Richardson showed with his willingness to play a role at Michigan State, where he demonstrated character and winning qualities.” – Jonathan Givony
The Ringer
Pick: No. 12 to Chicago Bulls
“If you’re just now parachuting in on the draft: Yes, Jason Richardson has a son, and no, they are not similar players. Jase wasn’t the focal point of his Michigan State team, but he gradually made himself indispensable this past season because of how dependable his 3-point shot was off the catch, how willing and able he was to keep the ball moving if he attacked a closeout, and how well he held up in the team’s overall defensive scheme. Measuring at just over 6 feet at the combine has deflated his case some, but playing next to a bigger guard like Josh Giddey could help cover for that. If he’s contributing to the team’s success like I think he can, that’s a win for the Bulls.” – J. Kyle Mann
Yahoo! Sports
Pick: No. 16 to Orlando Magic
“It would be a gift from the basketball gods if Richardson lands in Orlando’s lap at this pick. The Magic ranked 25th in 3-point attempts and last in percentage. It’d be a shocker if the Magic didn’t draft someone who can shoot at this spot. And Richardson is one of the best shooters in the class after making 45.7% of his catch-and-shoot 3s at Michigan State. Beyond that, he is a skilled combo guard with a lethal midrange game and a poised pick-and-roll feel, looking like he downloaded the experience of his NBA veteran father, Jason Richardson. Jase didn’t inherit his father’s height or dunk contest athleticism, though, so his smaller stature could cap his upside.” – Kevin O’Connor
On3:
Pick: No. 20 to Miami Heat
SI:
Pick: No. 20 to Miami Heat
CBS Sports:
Pick: No. 21 to Utah Jazz
“Underwhelming measurements at the NBA combine – he measured just over 6-foot barefoot – is likely to hurt Richardson’s stock and stunt it from a top-10 ceiling I once thought possible. He’s still a first-round talent, though, and he plays bigger than his measureables suggest, which make the height all the more surprising.” – Kyle Boone