Richie Saunders (basketball)

Richie Saunders
Saunders in 2024
No. 15 – BYU Cougars
PositionPoint guard / small forward
LeagueBig 12 Conference
Personal information
Born (2001-09-19) September 19, 2001
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolWasatch Academy
(Mount Pleasant, Utah)
CollegeBYU (2022–present)
Career highlights
  • First-team All-Big 12 (2025)
  • Big 12 Most Improved Player (2025)

Richie Saunders (born September 19, 2001) is an American college basketball player for the BYU Cougars of the Big 12 Conference.

Early life and high school

A great-grandson of Ore-Ida founder and inventor of the Tater Tot F. Nephi Grigg,[1] Saunders attended Wasatch Academy. Coming out of high school, Saunders was rated as a three-star recruit and was the 3rd ranked prospect from Utah in the class of 2020. He committed to play college basketball for the BYU Cougars over offers from Creighton, Utah State, Oregon State, and Utah.[2]

College career

As a freshman in 2022-23, Saunders appeared in 34 games with two starts, averaging 5.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.[3] In 2023-24, he appeared in 34 games with one start and averaged 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.[4][5] Saunders entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal after the season, but ultimately chose to return to play for BYU.[6] Heading into his junior year, he become a full-time starter for the first time in his career.[7] On December 31, 2024, Saunders posted a career-high 30 points in a victory over Arizona State.[8] On January 11, 2025, he tallied 26 points in a loss to TCU.[9] On February 22, Saunders scored 25 points including the pair of game-winning free throws versus Arizona.[10] For his performance during the 2024-25 season, he was named the Big 12 Most Improved Player while also being named first-team all-Big 12.[11]

References

  1. ^ Reynolds, Kevin (March 20, 2025). "A BYU basketball player became the face of Tater Tots in March Madness. Here's why". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  2. ^ Harper, Mitch; Ireland, Kyle. "Wasatch Academy's Richie Saunders Commits To BYU Basketball". KSL Sports. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  3. ^ Drew, Jay. "Richie Saunders is the Renaissance man on BYU's nationally ranked basketball team". Deseret News. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  4. ^ Weber, Alex. "BYU guard Richie Saunders enters NCAA transfer portal". On3.com. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  5. ^ Harper, Mitch. "BYU's Richie Saunders Announces He Will Enter NCAA Transfer Portal". KSL Sports. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  6. ^ Payne, Jackson. "Why Richie Saunders should be a First Team All-Big 12 selection". Deseret News. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  7. ^ Payne, Jackson. "BYU's Egor Demin, Richie Saunders both set to return from injury for the start of Big 12 play". Deseret News. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  8. ^ Harmon, Dick. "Veteran Saunders wrecks ASU with career high in BYU's Big 12 opener". Deseret News. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  9. ^ Harper, Mitch. "Kevin Young On BYU's Richie Saunders: 'As Talented As Any Wing In The Country'". KSL Sports. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  10. ^ McCann, Dave. "The 'S' in Saunders is for Superman". Deseret News. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  11. ^ Harper, Mitch. "BYU's Richie Saunders, Egor Demin Earn Big 12 Basketball Awards". KSL Sports. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
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