Syracuse's Richardson seeking 1st-round promise to stay in draft
A few magic words and Malachi Richardson is bound for the pros.
The Syracuse freshman told Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman at the NBA draft combine Thursday that he'll keep his name in the 2016 NBA Draft if he receives a guarantee that he'll be selected in the first round.
Richardson, however, added that he's yet to receive such a promise, though many scouts reportedly believe the guard will take his shot at the NBA even without one.
The consensus on Richardson's draft stock appears to be split, but most mock drafts currently project him to go in the second round. Richardson averaged 13.4 points per game as a freshman and starred in the NCAA tournament, but shot only 36.9 percent shooting from the field for the season, leaving some to question whether his game will pan out at the next level.
His college coach, Jim Boeheim, has already said he believes Richardson should return to the Orange for his sophomore campaign. However, Richardson's physical traits make him an intriguing prospect for NBA teams.
By all accounts, the athletic 6-foot-6 guard is lighting up the combine, which runs from May 11-15. He's also the shortest player at the event to possess a 7-foot wingspan.
For his part, the guard said Thursday he's completely undecided about his future.
Malachi Richardson tells Andy Katz says his decision process is still 50/50. Decision will come down to what's best for family @CNYcentral
— Niko Tamurian (@NikoTamurian) May 12, 2016
But his Syracuse teammate Michael Gbinije implied something else, telling SportsNet New York's Adam Zagoria with a smile that Richardson is at the combine "for a reason."