Richie Saunders suffered a season-ending torn ACL earlier this month. He was averaging 18 points per game with 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 steals while shooting nearly 49% from the field for the BYU Cougars.
Saunders joined the Cougars in 2022 and showed growth and potential over the last four seasons. He was on track to make this the best season of his college career. The injury happened in the opening minute of the game against Colorado.
The season-ending injury made fans question whether it would affect his draft stock. As one of the best players in the country, Saunders was expected to garner interest from several teams. His ability to play shooting guard and point guard only added to his credibility.
Despite the injury, BYU coach Kevin Young believes Saunders can be a good pick for any team. He recently shared his thoughts on Saunders and the upcoming NBA Draft.
“I told all my guys, I was like, man, all you guys say the same thing. Someone is gonna have to take a chance on him, probably higher than you guys think. He was definitely turning that way,” Young said.
Young said that injuries come into play in draft situations, but the minor setback doesn’t take anything away from Saunders’ ability as a player.
“The more people I talk to in the NBA…It definitely will affect him some but he’s still gonna be able to land on his feet and he’ll be a 10-12 year pro, without question,” Young added.
The BYU coach is confident that Saunders will bounce back from this injury and make a name for himself in the NBA. He is expected to be a mid-late second-round pick in the draft.
Richie Saunders Penned an Emotional Note After Injury
This was going to be the last year for Saunders at BYU. He would’ve wanted to finish his BYU run on a high note. Even if the team didn’t win a title, Saunders would’ve wanted to end it on a personal high note.
However, the injury during the Colorado game took it away from him. After the injury, the BYU guard shared a heartfelt note on Instagram.
“Unfortunate news last night — I tore my ACL, ending my season. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. They mean more than you know. To end my BYU career like this is heartbreaking. I’ve loved every moment and every challenge that came with representing the school I love,” he wrote.
His goal is still to be an NBA player and have a fruitful career. The injury is just another setback that he will have to overcome.
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