Rick Pitino lands another top guard and Kentucky target, Kadary Richmond

Rick Pitino is on a roll, folks. One day after landing Deivon Smith, Pitino and St. John’s have secured a commitment from another top player in the transfer portal, former Seton Hall guard Kadary Richmond.

Kentucky contacted Richmond when he entered the portal late last month; however, Richmond told ESPN he chose St. John’s over Oklahoma, Syracuse, Miami, and USC. A Brooklyn native, the 6’6″ guard said the chance to play close to home and for a coach like Pitino was too much to pass up.

“They were big on life after basketball and player development,” Richmond said of St. John’s. “That stood out to me, the way they kept it real from day one. They are going to allow me to showcase my ability and become a better basketball player and person. I’d like to make a long run deep into the NCAA tournament and eventually win a national championship. I’m ready to get to work and see what Coach Pitino has in store.”

The Red Storm now have one of the best backcourt in college basketball in Smith and Richmond, who both rank in the Top 25 of On3’s transfer portal rankings. Richmond, who earned first-team All-Big East honors last season, was No. 1 in ESPN’s transfer rankings. As a senior, he averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists and led Seton Hall to an NIT championship. Richmond started his career at Syracuse, transferring to Seton Hall after his freshman year. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

Pitino being Pitino, he did not shy away from high praise in his statement on Richmond’s signing.

“Kadary Richmond is a player I admired so much in the BIG EAST,” Pitino said. “Awesome talent and we are so excited to have him. [Simeon Wilcher], Deivon [Smith] and now Kadary, along with our young talents, is a dream backcourt.”

St. John’s also brings in former North Texas small forward Aaron Scott, former USC big man Vincent Iwuchukwu, and a top-50 recruiting class. If Rick Pitino and Mark Pope follow through on a Kentucky vs. St. John’s game this season, the Cats will have their hands full.

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Four-star SG Trent Noah released from NLI with South Carolina

What about Kentucky’s roster-building efforts? While Mark Pope is waiting on some NBA Draft decisions from his transfer portal targets, today’s big news comes from the high school ranks. Harlan County shooting guard Trent Noah, a three-star prospect and one of the top players in Kentucky, was released from his NLI with South Carolina and is reopening his recruitment.

We’ve yet to hear if Kentucky has officially thrown its hat in the ring, but the interest will be mutual if/when they do. In his announcement, Noah said he wanted to “[pursue] basketball opportunities closer to home.” It’s hard to get much closer than Lexington. Noah averaged just shy of 30 points per game as a senior on 56% shooting from the field and 43% from three. He ranks No. 5 on the Kentucky high school basketball all-time scorers list. No. 1, of course, is Kentucky signee Travis Perry, with whom Noah could share the floor next season.

For more on Noah, I’ll direct you to Jack Pilgrim’s bio blast.