Syracuse Basketball: Kadary Richmond headed to St. John's, reportedly considered SU

On Tuesday, former Syracuse basketball player Kadary Richmond committed to St. John's and head coach Rick Pitino, a former Orange assistant several decades ago, according to media reports.

While Richmond has opted to stay in the Big East Conference by transferring from Seton Hall to the Red Storm, one report on Tuesday seemed to indicate that he was potentially considering a return to the 'Cuse.

Zach Braziller, a reporter with the New York Post, writes in an article that the 6-foot-6, 205-pound Richmond, a talented senior guard who entered the transfer portal in late April, "visited St. John’s twice, right after entering the portal on April 26, and again Monday and Tuesday of this week. He tripped to Oklahoma over the weekend. Illinois, Syracuse and West Virginia were among his other suitors. He considered taking other visits, but after his trip to Queens on Monday, Richmond was set on his new home."

In a post on X, Braziller said that Richmond picked St. John's "over Oklahoma, Syracuse, Miami, USC and Illinois."

Richmond's recruitment of late has proven a hot-button topic among some 'Cuse fans whom I interact with on social media and in chat rooms. There was a contingent of Orange fans that had hoped Richmond would return to the Hill for his final season of collegiate ball.

Former Syracuse basketball player Kadary Richmond will remain in the Big East Conference.

As of this writing on Tuesday night, the 'Cuse has 10 scholarship players for its 2024-25 season, including five guards. The Orange has three open scholarships for the upcoming term. That being said, the squad's starting point guard from 2023-24, sophomore Judah Mintz, is headed to this summer's NBA Draft.

This off-season, per reports, 'Cuse coaches have shown some level of interest in various transfer guards. Not too long ago, four-star transfer Jaquan Carlos, a junior point guard from Hofstra, did commit to Syracuse basketball.

Whether Carlos will be the Orange's starting point guard in 2024-25 remains to be seen. But I can understand why the 'Cuse would have pursued Richmond, who when I wrote this article was rated as four stars, No. 1 nationwide and No. 1 at point guard in national transfer rankings from 247Sports.

Richmond, who is from Brooklyn, N.Y., helped lead Seton Hall to a 25-12 overall record and the NIT championship this past season. The All-Big East first-team performer, as a senior in 2023-24, averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game while connecting on 44.1 percent from the field and 80.7 percent from the free-throw line, per ESPN data.

Now, how strongly Richmond considered Syracuse basketball, I candidly do not know. It does seem like the 'Cuse staff and Richmond were in contact with one another.

Another factor here, I assume, would center on name, image and likeness opportunities. The Orange is hoping to remain competitive with its NIL dollars, however, what St. John's may - I repeat, may - have offered Richmond could have proven too high for the 'Cuse or other suitors to match. This is speculative on my part, but it's worth at least mentioning.

I would have loved for Kadary to don a Syracuse basketball uniform in 2024-25, but it wasn't meant to be. He'll be part of a loaded St. John's backcourt in the upcoming stanza.