Special to Sports News Highlights

(SNH) — Seton Hall guard Kadary Richmond instantly became one of the best players available in the transfer portal after deciding to part ways with the Pirates on Thursday afternoon.

The grad transfer averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game and led Seton Hall to an NIT Championship. Richmond scored 21 points and brought down 13 rebounds in the 79-77 win over Indiana State earlier this month.

Richmond is the eighth Seton Hall player to enter the portal since the end of the season. The 6-feet-6 guard began his career at Syracuse before transferring to Seton Hall ahead of the 2021-22 season. Richmond started 85 games for the Pirates in his three years with the school.

Richmond will have a long line of suitors and figures to make significant NIL money.

Duke and Kentucky contacted Richmond on Friday, but Big East rival St. John’s is viewed as the early favorite.

Richmond is also receiving feedback from the NBA Advisory Committee and will have professional options as well. According to Adam Zagoria of New York Times Sports, NBA scouts believe there’s a chance that he could be drafted.

“He’s got to improve his jump shot and he’s got to play a little harder on the defensive end but he’s going to get a chance to play at the next level,” ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla said.

While turning pro is still on the table, transferring is the likeliest outcome and It’s easy to see why schools will be lining up to secure his services.

EvanMiya.com ranks Richmond as the best player in the portal. Richmond was a First Team All-Big East performer last season and impacts the game beyond scoring the basketball. He registered 20 points nine times in conference play, but also stands out as a playmaker and is an elite rebounder for his size.  

Richmond recorded double digit assists three different times last season – including a 21-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double against Creighton in January.

The senior averaged 2.2 steals per game and showed flashes of his potential as a point of attack defender.

Seton Hall brought in Prince Aligbe and Scotty Middleton but head coach Shaheen Holloway will have his work cut out for him next season due to the high volume of transfers leaving the program. Aligbe played two seasons at Boston College and averaged 4.7 points per game. Middleton played 30 games in his freshman season for Ohio State last season – averaging 4.4 points per game and shooting 45.2% from three on 2.1 attempts per game.

Richmond’s backcourt mates Dre Davis and Dylan Addae-Wusu also left the program. Davis landed at Ole Miss after averaging 15.0 points and 5.9 rebounds last season. Addae-Wusu – who started his career at St. John’s – entered the portal on Wednesday.

Seton Hall worked to improve its NIL situation, but it was not enough to keep the core intact.

The trio led the Pirates to a top four finish in the Big East regular season standings – the program’s best finish since the 2019-20 season.

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