Prospect Watch: Derek Richards (2019)
Class of 2019 guard Derek Richards of Louisiana has been getting plenty of buckets since he first stepped on the court as a freshman.
The 5’10” Richards enters his senior season with a total of 1,634 career points and he has his sights set on breaking the career scoring record of 2,031 points. The record is well within Richards’ reach as he has averaged 20 points a game throughout this three-year varsity career. As much as he relishes that individual goal, he aspires to take his Louisiana team on a deep postseason run.
“My goal this senior season is to surpass the current scoring record at my high school,” Richards said. “I would also like to take my team to a district championship, then sectionals and finally to state. That’s all my eye is on, the big prize.”
Richads’ scoring prowess has earned him the interest from colleges such as William Woods, Graceland University, Dominican University and Buena Vista.
Although small in stature, Williams is a tough scoring guard who loves to attack the basket and get buckets on the drive. He quickness and willingness to get to the basket has netted him many points, free throws and conventional three-point plays. He has also continued to improved his perimeter shooting, which makes him an even more formidable offensive weapon.
“I have become the scoring threat over the years from always working on my game and playing in tournaments against older competition since my younger days,” he said. “It made me stronger and want to work harder to be the best on the floor at all times.”
Playing against the older players as a youngster paid immediate dividends as he broke into Louisiana’s starting lineup as a freshman and averaged 17.6 points a game. As a sophomore, Richards averaged 22 points a game and he averaged 21 points as a junior. During the summer, he played with the Missouri Mavericks 17U on a team full of small-school standouts.
“The Mavericks benefited me by allowing me to play in exposure tournaments against competition I’m not used to playing all the time,” he said. “It helped me want to work harder knowing how many great athletes there are out there.”