What Billy Richmond's commitment means for Kentucky

How about a surprise early Christmas present for John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats? 2024 four-star wing Billy Richmond finally made it official with the program seen as the overwhelming favorite in his recruitment from start to finish.

The 6-6, 200-pound prospect out of Memphis, TN chose Kentucky over Alabama, LSU and Memphis. He previously considered the likes of Kansas, Louisville, Miami (FL) and Texas.

Richmond, rated as the No. 21 overall prospect and No. 9 small forward in the 2024 On3 Industry Rankings, joins the program’s second-ranked class that also includes five-star center Jayden Quaintance, five-star guard Boogie Fland, four-star center Somto Cyril and four-star guard Travis Perry.

What are the Wildcats getting in the four-star wing? And what does his commitment mean for the program?

Elite perimeter defense with a never-ending motor

Richmond will tell you his jumper is a work in progress, shooting just 25.0% from three during the EYBL regular season and 12.5% at Peach Jam. He only made eight total 3-pointers in 23 high school games as a junior. It’s just not a go-to part of his game — not yet, at least.

“I’m working on my shooting for sure,” Richmond told KSR this summer, adding that he was going to “just shoot jump shots” in two-a-day practices ahead of his senior season.

His impact comes on the other side of the floor, an absolute defensive terror out on the perimeter. He’s long, athletic and active, regularly turning turnovers into transition buckets the other direction. Mismatches don’t exist when he’s guarding on-ball, a true one-through-five defender thanks to his sturdy 6-6, 200-pound frame — with room to grow.

Think DeAndre Liggins, Calipari’s next lockdown threat happy to guard the other team’s best offensive talent. And he’s a tough rebounder, too, averaging 5.6 per game in high school, 6.1 playing EYBL and 5.0 at Peach Jam.

“My intensity and energy,” he said of what separates his game. “It’s like, ‘OK, I took a bad shot, but let me get back on defense. Let me get a rebound and defend.’ I’ll do the little things.”

Richmond is a smooth and strong finisher around the basket, his offensive bread and butter. He’s known for defense, but he’ll also give you buckets — he was a top-15 scorer during the EYBL regular season, averaging 18.0 points per game on 54.0% shooting.

Coach Cal and Kentucky connections run deep

Richmond has been a familiar name and face for well over a year. If you followed current Kentucky freshmen DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw at Camden High School and with the NJ Scholars on the EYBL circuit, you knew of the newest Wildcat signee — he was a key part of both programs.

He’s close friends with both players, who actively recruited him to Lexington, whether their college paths align or not as likely one-and-done talents.

“Just checking up on their journey in college basketball,” Richmond said. “It’s a great blessing, two big-time players who are for sure going to the league. They put trust in me and know I can fit into that system where I can come in and do my thing.”

And that’s the start of his decades-long connections to the program — or Coach Cal, at least. Richmond’s father, Billy Richmond Jr., played for Calipari at Memphis from 2002-04. He was dismissed from the program, previously admitting he “had to grow up” and “not take things so personally,” issues that ended his time with the Tigers. His relationship with his former coach has since been repaired, if not stronger than ever.

“It’s really cool. When he’s in Memphis, he always comes to eat with my dad,” Richmond said of his father’s relationship with Calipari. “They just chat, but I think it’s a good thing (that relationship is there).”

The foundation is set in ’24

Kentucky’s five-man class in ’24 is a complementary group of guards, wings and bigs. You’ve got scoring and shooting in Fland and Perry, defense and athleticism in Richmond, size and versatility in Quaintance and physicality and shot-blocking in Cyril. The fits make sense.

It also gives John Calipari complete freedom to push his chips in on another home run or two to close things out in the spring.

The Wildcats are in a hard-fought battle for ’24 five-star guard VJ Edgecombe — that’s a three-horse race between Kentucky, Duke and Baylor — while also keeping a close eye on five-star wing Karter Knox, the younger brother of former UK one-and-done Kevin Knox. ’25 five-star guard Darryn Peterson remains a potential reclass candidate with major Kentucky interest. The same can be said for Lexington’s own Jasper Johnson, top-five bucket-getter Meleek Thomas and skilled wing Caleb Wilson — all names of interest. Options are available.

The Wildcats will need bodies. DJ Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw, Justin Edwards and Rob Dillingham are likely one-and-dones while Reed Sheppard is firmly in the conversation. If Adou Thiero continues to play well, does he bet on himself? Antonio Reeves and Tre Mitchell are out of eligibility. What happens with Zvonimir Ivisic and Ugonna Onyenso? A mass exodus could be on the table and replacements will be necessary.

Ideally, you get a couple of core guys back — Sheppard, Thiero and Onyenso being the potential prizes — while Jordan Burks and Joey Hart continue to develop in Lexington. Throw in Kentucky’s five signees and you’ve got 10-ish potential pieces. That gives Calipari the flexibility to go get a ceiling-altering high school talent or a star out of the portal. Add a player like Edgecombe or Peterson to this group and you’re cooking with gas.

Barring any serious surprises, it’s hard to envision a scenario where Kentucky is scrambling to add core pieces deep into the offseason. The foundation is now set.

Calipari keeps it rolling

Had any questions about Coach Cal hanging it up anytime soon? You can probably squash those now. You’re not signing a five-man class in the (extended) early period if you have any inkling a sudden departure could be on the table.

And he’s already talking about things going well next year.

“We’ve got another good group coming in next year,” Calipari said this week. “Then some of the 25s, I’m feeling really, really good about. You’re talking about three years — this year, next year then the year after that with really good players.”

Part of that includes Quaintance being a mandatory two-year player due to age restrictions — Peterson would be the same way if he reclassifies. But Kentucky has also laid the groundwork with guys like Thomas, Johnson, Wilson, AJ Dybantsa, Cameron and Cayden Boozer, Koa Peat, Darius Acuff and Malachi Moreno. Something special could be brewing there, as well.

Point being, it’s probably safe to assume we’ll see Calipari roaming the Kentucky sidelines for at least a few more seasons.

Richmond’s addition plays a part in that.