Seton Hall star Kadary Richmond hears from Kentucky

Kentucky is making a push for one of the top combo guards in the transfer portal and an All-Big East First Team member. Kadary Richmond, who averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists per contest at Seton Hall in 2023-24, has been in contact with the Wildcats since exploring his options, he told Jacob Polacheck of KSR+.

UK assistant Jason Hart was the coach to reach out.

Adam Zagoria was the first to break the news, adding that Duke, St. John’s, Villanova, Illinois, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Florida State, UCF and Arkansas have also been in contact.

Kentucky assistant Jason Hart has reached out to Seton Hall transfer Kadary Richmond, he tells KSR+.

First by @AdamZagoria https://t.co/g8wosHUE7w

— Jacob Polacheck (@PolacheckKSR) April 26, 2024

Richmond started 34 games for the Pirates with 35 appearances overall with 122 career games, one season at Syracuse (2020-21) and three at Seton Hall (2021-24). He’s accumulated career averages of 10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.9 steals on 42.8/33.7/75.4 splits.

A source told Zagoria the star guard is “open” and “not necessarily leaning one way” while likely transferring to another school rather than pursuing his professional options.

An interesting and unexpected note out of Churchill Downs — yes, Churchill Downs — to keep an eye on? Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde got passed along some random scoop from a horse owner preparing for the Kentucky Derby, one who happens to be a St. John’s fan.

“Thoroughbred owner/St John’s fan and collective rainmaker Mike Repole just alluded to the Red Storm getting a player from Seton Hall. (Kadary) Richmond en route from NJ to NYC?” he said. “Repole ‘broke’ this news while standing in front of a barn at Churchill Downs, where his horse, Fierceness, just had his final major workout before next week’s Kentucky Derby.”

Are we getting another Rick Pitino vs. Mark Pope portal battle? It’d be a big one for the latter to win.