With the No. 42 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans selected Kentucky big man Nick Richards, who is reportedly headed to the Charlotte Hornets, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Though fellow members of Kentucky's 2017 recruit class like Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Kevin Knox, and PJ Washington already made the leap to the NBA after their freshman or sophomore seasons, Richards' development has been more of a slow burn.
However, 2019-20 was a big year for the 7-footer; the Jamaica-born junior averaged 14 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. Overall, Richards shot 62.7% from the floor in college.
For his breakout year, Richards was named first-team All-SEC and to the conference's All-Defensive squad.
Bio
Position: C
School: Kentucky
Height: 7-feet
Weight: 242 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot-2
Max vertical: N/A
Strengths
- Elite size and good athleticism should make him a lob threat
- Solid back-to-the-basket game
- Gaining better understanding of how to leverage size as a rim-protector
- Despite range questions, shot 72.8% from free-throw line in college
Weaknesses
- Overaggressiveness on the defensive end sometimes led to foul trouble; had 14 games with four-plus fouls in 2019-20
- Slow hands on defense; totaled 10 steals in 105 collegiate appearances
- 23 assists to 101 turnovers at Kentucky
- Didn't attempt a 3-pointer in college
