St. John’s duo shines in blowout win over Fordham

In St. John’s’ lopsided 90-62 win over Fordham on Monday, two key Red Storm players had productive performances. While there wasn’t much high-level action on the first day of the college basketball regular season, Kadary Richmond and Simeon Wilcher made the most of their minutes and appeared poised to lead St. John’s throughout the upcoming season. Let’s take a closer look at how these players impacted the game and how that could impact their draft stock.

Kadary Richmond excelled in this first game for the Red Storm, showing impressive versatility in the two-way game. He finished the game with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, one steal and one blocked shot while making 7 of 12 field goals. He was at his best when attacking the paint and finishing well through contact in a variety of ways. Entering the crowded lane, he constantly gathered his strength and lifted both legs to finish with great control. Richmond also made 1 of 2 three-point attempts. His jumps on the outside are a little slow, but were still smooth nonetheless.

This is his first season at St. John’s after transferring from Seton Hall, where he averaged 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals as a senior. He has been a nightly threat to impact the game all over the court and appears poised to carry that over into his new innings. As an older prospect, it would be difficult for him to move too high on most draft boards. However, we’ve seen older prospects with well-rounded games make their way into the draft, so only time will tell how NBA teams view him.

Simeon Wilcher looked poised to take a huge leap in his second season, finishing with 17 points, three rebounds and two steals. His possession of the ball seemed to improve significantly as he excelled at making quick movements to get past defenders. He played reactively, using nimble footwork to quickly attack defenders on his way to the rim. His efficiency in this game was also impressive, as he made 7 of 9 field goals, including 1 of 2 from deep. His nine field goal attempts were second best for St. John’s behind Richmond, so it’s clear he’ll be counted on to be a scorer. The most understandable aspect of his game comes from his transition capabilities. He used his long strides and lateral explosiveness to consistently get into the open and attack with great composure.

Wilcher didn’t have much opportunity as a freshman, averaging just nine minutes per game. However, his debut in his second year looked much more confident and impressive. Because he is still a young prospect, he has undeniable room to grow and has shown glimpses of what he can grow into.

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