Syracuse freshman Malachi Richardson has signed with agent Stephen Pina of ASM Sports and will remain in the NBA Draft.
“We are proud to welcome Malachi to our ASM family,” Andy Miller told SNY.tv. “We look forward to helping him in building a long successful career.”
Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer first reported the news.
Projected at No. 13 on Chad Ford’s Big Board and at No. 37 in the latest DraftExpress.com mock draft, Richardson was hoping for a first-round guarantee.
The 6-foot-6 native of Trenton, N.J., said that during the interviews at the NBA Draft Combine with teams like the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, he was looking for a guarantee of being drafted.
“If it was yes, then I would definitely come out,” he said Thursday at the NBA Draft Combine. “But it’s never going to be that answer so you never know.”
He added: “I could be in the first round, I could be in the second round, I could even go undrafted, so anything could happen.
“I just wanted to make sure I made the best decision [by testing the waters]. I didn’t want to jump the gun with just coming out and signing with an agent. And I didn’t want to just stay in school because I didn’t weigh my options.
“I’m just making sure I’m mentally and physically ready to go to the next level and just making sure I would get drafted.”
One NBA executive told SNY.tv that Richardson interviewed very well and came across as very confident.
“This definitely helps out a lot, knowing that I was able to get invited here,” Richardson said. “This whole process wouldn’t be possible if this wasn’t here.”
Of the Sixers, which are close to his home in Trenton, he said: “I would love playing in Philly, [it’s] close to home. Playing with some great bigs.”
Syracuse associate head coach Mike Hopkins believes the way the NBA is trending now with the Golden State Warriors emphasizing spacing and shooting, Richardson fits that mold perfectly.
“He has a high IQ, he can shoot,” Hopkins said. “Malachi has a 7-foot wingspan. He’s got all the features of what that league is looking for. Perfect body, perfect length, he has all those features. Size, length, skill.”
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
And like ZAGS on Facebook
NSyracuse freshman Malachi Richardson has signed with agent Stephen Pina of ASM Sports and remain in the NBA Draft.
