What's left to say about the fireworks Richie Saunders set off in basketball gyms around the nation? When BYU's new head coach, Kevin Young, convinced the junior guard to withdraw from the transfer portal, turn down an offer from Kentucky, and ride the wave with the Cougars, fans were ecstatic.
Retaining Saunders meant retaining the heartbeat of the program. For a squad that would doubtlessly see foundation-shaking alterations in the aftermath of Mark Pope's departure, keeping Richie on campus meant BYU had a platform to launch from.
Richie Saunders' Season Report Card
Saunders finished his sophomore season as one of basketball's most valuable "glue guys". Loose ball? He's diving after it. Defensive rotation needed? He's already clogging the lane. Desperate for a boost of offense? Kick it to Richie on the wing -- he'll knock down the long range jumper.
His junior season sparked a severe narrative shift for Saunders' basketball reputation however. Despite being stuck a calendar year from his academic graduation, Richie graduated from his specialist role and infused his intangibles into a knockdown 3-point shot (over 42% on the year), a superb ability to penetrate perimeter defense, and the same relentless motor to elevate his team's floor through sheer will power.
In his program's second season of membership, Richie Saunders earned All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors, and assumed a mantle as the face of Kevin Young's pro development program.
Richie's 2024-25 season even garnered NBA attention, should he elect to make the jump to the NBA (though that seems unlikely at this point in the offseason). Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor lists Saunders as the 38th best prospect in the draft class, noting his "manic energy" and "quick trigger, soft touch on floaters, and a feel for moving the ball" as reasons NBA teams should give BYU's second draft prospect an opportunity.
In clutch situations, Saunders didn't blink. Against Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament, Richie caught a pass at the top of the key and cooly knocked through the game-winning 3-ball that pushed the dagger into Iowa State for the second time on the season.
On the road against Arizona, Saunders faced two go-ahead free throws for the lead -- and eventually, the win -- and held a stone-cold demeanor as both attempts grazed through the nylon.
Even on the defensive end, Saunders' middling level of natural athleticism was never an excuse to play half-heartedly without the ball. When he takes the floor, he takes pride in every minute. Like the Energizer bunny, Richie bangs the drum that paces the rest of his teammates. On and off the floor, he was the beacon of competition that ignited this season's standout BYU basketball squad.
All the way to the Sweet 16.
I couldn't, in good conscience, grade Richie with anything short of an A+ for his breakout year with the Cougars. He was everything you'd want in a competitor, athlete, scorer, defender, and pacer. His development from year to year has been stellar, and another season just like this one would be more than what one could hope for.