West Virginia Basketball: Analyzing the 2019 recruiting class

Ethan Richardson – Fresno City College

PF | 6-foot-10 | 245 lbs | Unranked JUCO

Ethan Richardson was a bit of a late addition to this group but he still brings plenty of value as a result of his 6-foot-10 frame. Although he is not listed on JUCO Recruiting as one of the top newcomers to Division-I, there is room for him to emerge as a solid piece during his two remaining seasons of eligibility. He is an above-average athlete for his size and excels with regards to running the floor compared to other big men. Considering West Virginia likes to operate an up-tempo offense, he seems to be a perfect fit and should add to the frontcourt depth behind players such as Derek Culver and incoming freshman Oscar Tshiebwe.

Prior to his commitment, West Virginia lacked both depth and experience in the frontcourt. While Richardson likely will not start, he could see solid minutes right away while helping to counteract those two concerns. At the very least, he will add another big body to the roster that will improve the development of the young power forwards and centers on the roster. His quickness and athleticism at his height could prove to be a challenge in practices even if he does not find consistent playing time.

During this past season, Richardson posted solid numbers for Fresno City College. Over the course of 32 total games for the Rams, he averaged 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in under 25 minutes per contest on 63.8% shooting from the floor. He does not stretch the floor particularly well as a jump-shooter but finishes around the basket at a high rate and understands his role on the court. He could turn out to be a nice addition for the next two seasons.