Kentucky offers legacy recruit, Camden HS guard Billy Richmond
John Calipari continues to connect with some familiar faces on the recruiting trail, this time offering a scholarship to the son of yet another former player, again from his Memphis days.
And he’s got ties to a pair of future Wildcats, as well.
2024 shooting guard Billy Richmond III, ranked No. 154 overall in the On3 Consensus, announced a new offer from Kentucky this weekend. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound prospect is the son of former Memphis guard Billy Richmond Jr., who played for Calipari from 2002-04.
The new Kentucky target is a teammate of Kentucky basketball signees DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw at Camden High School in New Jersey.
Richmond also holds offers from the likes of Louisville, Memphis and Mississippi State, among others.
The three-star recruit’s standout teammates, Wagner and Bradshaw, both signed with Kentucky during the early signing period back in November. The former publicly announced his commitment at the time of his signing, while the latter chose the Wildcats leading up to his official visit to Lexington prior to Big Blue Madness in October. Both are set to arrive on campus this summer.
Richmond’s father started his career at Vanderbilt, averaging 8.8 points in 23.3 minutes per contest as a freshman. He then transferred to Memphis for his final two seasons of college basketball, averaging a combined 7.7 points in 21.9 minutes per game. A 6-foot-5 guard, Richmond was ultimately dismissed from the team by John Calipari in 2003 — a relationship that has since been repaired.
“I had to grow up,” Richmond told Phil Stukenborg of The Commercial Appeal in 2022. “And once I decided to grow up and not take things so personally, me and Cal began to have a great relationship. You can’t take things so personal when things don’t go your way. I know it wasn’t personal because here I am today successful. And he’s successful as well. We’re good.”
Now 20 years later, Richmond’s son is a promising recruit who has caught Coach Cal’s eye — and he’s certainly gotten plenty of viewing opportunities at Camden alongside Wagner and Bradshaw.
It’s the latest example of Calipari pursuing the son of a former player. Kareem Watkins — stepson of former Memphis star Dajuan Wagner Sr. — was the first, walking on in 2020. Kentucky then signed Adou Thiero, the son of former Memphis big Almamy Thiero, this past recruiting cycle. And now there’s Wagner Sr.’s son, D.J., one of the top prospects in the class of 2023.
Could Richmond be the latest example in 2024?
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