Daejah Richmond is "Every Ounce of What Memphis Stands for"
The University of Memphis women’s basketball team is entering a critical third year in Alex Simmons’ tenure. After back-to-back losing seasons, both marred by injuries that make it easy to place the blame, the Tigers just need to win.
And Simmons had a lot of work to do in the portal, recruiting for a team that returned only two players.
“My priority was bringing in players that were locked into me as a coach and to what my goals were for this program. And players that just love the game of basketball.” Simmons said, “Players that have a passion to play for Memphis.”
One player she brought in has a special connection to the passion for the city that coach Simmons emphasized: Daejah Richmond, a 5-foot-8 guard hailing from the 901.
When asked about how special the opportunity to play for her hometown team was, Richmond didn’t shy away from how eager she was to be a Tiger.
“I always wanted to do that (play for Memphis) coming out.” Richmond said, “I never got the opportunity, and the opportunity did present itself when I was in the portal, so I’m glad to be home. An absolute no-brainer.”
Richmond prepped at First Assembly Christian School, less than 10 miles from campus. She spent last season in-state at UT Martin, where she averaged 8.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in nearly 25 minutes per contest.
“She’s tough, talk about grit. Every ounce of what Memphis stands for, she walks it. That’s her grit and her toughness.” Simmons said, “She walks in the gym, she’s competing with somebody to be the first in the gym. She embodies what Memphis is all about.”
And the numbers back that up. In her two collegiate seasons, Richmond has played in all 61 of her team’s games, a durability that is especially attractive to a program that has been ravaged by injuries. She also led her Skyhawk squad with 1.9 steals per game.
I’m gonna go out there and get it. I’m gonna help make hustle plays. I’m quick on the floor, midrange game coming along. Whatever she (coach Simmons) needs me to do, I’m gonna go out there and do it.”
Richmond makes the trek from Martin to Memphis, joined by new Tiger assistant coach Garner Small, who specialized in defensive philosophy and player development for the Skyhawks.
