BYU transfer Richie Saunders visiting Kentucky

Mark Pope made his first portal addition at Kentucky on Sunday with the transfer of Drexel’s Amari Williams. Now, he could soon potentially earn a second, including his first from his former program back in Provo.

Per Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio, Richie Saunders, a reserve guard the past two seasons for BYU, is currently on a visit in Lexington. He came into the bluegrass to end the weekend and will check out campus through Monday.

Saunders played in 68 games for the Cougars under Pope the last two years. In that time at 18 minutes a game, he averaged 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and an assist. He did so while shooting 49.6% from the field and 35% from three.

As a sophomore this last season, Saunders went for 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 52.3% overall and 36.4% from deep. That was good for top-five on the roster in points, rebounds, steals, field-goal percentage, and three-point percentage.

Saunders, a native of Mount Pleasant, Utah, played high school basketball at Wasatch Academy after starting at Riverton High School. He was a three-star prospect there as the No. 230 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also rated as a Top-50 SG and the No. 4 player in the state behind just Mady Sissoko (Michigan State), Caleb Lohner (BYU, Baylor), and Mike Saunders (Cincinnati, Utah, McNeese State). All three were former teammates of his at Wasatch and each have since transferred at least once while in college.

Saunders served a mission in Seattle, Washington for two years. He then arrived at BYU in 2022.

Pope’s departure led to four transfers from his previous team to this point. That quartet includes Aly Khalifa (Louisville), Dallin Hall, and Marcus Adams Jr. along with Saunders.

Pope has been active in the portal since taking the head coaching job at Kentucky over a week ago. Williams was the first addition of that, even though he is still going through the process for the upcoming NBA Draft. There’s still plenty of work to do, though, with only two other players currently set to be on the roster in a pair of freshmen guards in Travis Perry and Collin Chandler.

Pope has, surprisingly or not, not had as much reported interaction or connections with his former Cougars in the portal. However, that could soon change with Saunders visiting his last head coach at his new school.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.