Richie Saunders will be celebrated on Senior Night as BYU hosts No. 10 Texas Tech in one of the more touching send-offs in recent BYU history. Over the last four seasons, Cougar fans have had the joyful, often exhilarating experience of watching the former Wasatch Academy star grow from a freshman role player to a sophomore hustle and glue guy, to an all-Big 12 player and NBA prospect.
In the age of the transfer portal and NIL, it's becoming increasingly rare for fans to be able to root for guys with NBA potential over the course of a four-year college career. Richie Saunders gave BYU fans that gift.
He will always be remembered and revered in Provo.
Richie's career retrospective
The 6-foot-5 guard was a high three-star recruit at Wasatch Academy with an 89 rating from 247 Sports, making him the No. 4 prospect in the state of Utah in the class of 2020.
After finishing high school Saunders elected to serve a two-year full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints assigned to the Seattle, Washington mission. This important decision to serve further connected him with many BYU fans who have served missions themselves or have shared that sacred experience with siblings, parents, or children who have served.
As a freshman in 2022-23, BYU's final season in the West Coast Conference, Saunders averaged 15.9 minutes per game on a team that struggled to a 7-9 conference record. He was effective in those reserve minutes averaging 5.5 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 45.3% from the field and 33.3% from the 3-point line.
As a sophomore in 2023-24 he emerged as BYU's "glue guy" off the bench who played with his hair on fire and likely led the Big 12 in floor burns per minute. His production ticked up to 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 20.7 minutes per game. He shot an uber-efficient 52.3% from the field and his 3-point shooting jumped to 36.4%.
Coach Mark Pope left BYU for Kentucky after that season and tried to recruit Richie to follow him to the Bluegrass State. Saunders stayed loyal, strong, and true to BYU instead of joining the bluest of the bluebloods.
As Kevin Young replaced Pope last year, Richie joined starting lineup, as expected, but few Cougar fans could have predicted the incredible breakout campaign to come. He averaged 16.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 51.8% from the field and a ridiculous 43.2% from the 3-point line. In addition to leading BYU to the Sweet 16 he was named All-Big 12 First Team and as the conference's Most Improved Player.
In this his senior season, Richie was the heartbeat and the soul of this team. His production jumped to 18.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. But the on Valentine's Day against Colorado he tore his ACL one minute into the game. The Cougars were 5-5 in Big 12 play before losing Saunders, and since his injury the team has fallen apart. While Richie was a star, he was still the "glue guy" that kept this team together.
Celebrating Richie Saunders on Senior Night
As far as Saturday's actual game goes against No. 10 Texas Tech, there's no real reason to break down the Xs and Os. If Kevin Young's squad plays against the Red Raiders like they have over their last three games, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Cougs trailing by 12 at halftime, cut it to seven with about 14 minutes to play, then go on to lose by 16.
With a fourth straight BYU loss feeling somewhat inevitable, the focus for Saturday simply turns to showering Richie Saunders with a love bomb. As BYU and other high-level programs increasingly turn to one-and-done prospects and the transfer portal, we may not have another four-year returned missionary star like Richie Saunders for years to come.
While I unfortunately won't be in Provo for Senior Night, here's what I would say to Richie Saunders if I had the chance:
Thank you, Richie, for everything you have done for BYU hoops. Thank you for your grit, hard work, and dedication. Thank you for serving a mission and being an example to young men who look up to you. Thank you for being an ideal representative of BYU specifically and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints more broadly. Thank you for the Sweet 16. Thank you for the Tater Tots King. Thank you for giving us the joy of watching you grow and develop over four years. Thank you for staying when you could have named your price to leave.
We will miss the floor burns, the headband, the Tater Tots, and the lightning-quick release on his 3-point shot, but we know there are still great things to come for Richie Saunders.