Jase Richardson emerging as Michigan State basketball's star as Spartans head to Maryland

Jase Richardson emerging as Michigan State basketball’s star as Spartans head to Maryland

Posted by author February 25, 2025 Basketball

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EAST LANSING – There wasn’t really a moment where it hasn’t clicked for Jase Richardson.

Everything, he feels, has lived up to his expectations. Which shouldn’t come as a surprise from the Michigan State basketball freshman, whose poise on the court and high-hoops IQ – along with an NBA lineage and pedigree – have allowed to him emerge as a starter and leader for a team chasing a Big Ten title.

And people are taking notice. Even if his focus remains solely on giving Tom Izzo a record-tying 11th regular-season conference championship and joining his father as a national champion.

“I think mostly, just for us, it’s just winning,” Richardson said after practice Monday. “I think we’re more worried about the team stuff than the individual stuff. But if the individual stuff comes with the team stuff, then we’ll take it.”

Richardson and the eighth-ranked Spartans (22-5, 13-3), who are tied with Michigan atop the Big Ten standings with four games remaining, travel to red-hot No. 15 Maryland (21-6, 11-5) for another major road test. Tipoff is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (BTN). The Spartans have won three straight and four of their last five, while the Terrapins are on a four-game streak and winners of eight of their last nine.

On Monday, Richardson was named Big Ten freshman of the week for the first time, MSU’s first weekly award winner this season. He averaged 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.5 assists while shooting 55.6% overall, hitting 4 of 7 from 3-point range and going 9-for-10 at the free-throw line in wins over No. 19 Purdue and No. 13 Michigan.

Against the Wolverines, Richardson finished with a game-high 21 points, his third time eclipsing 20 points this season, while adding six rebounds and three steals.

“It’s a really tough 2024 (freshman) class in the Big Ten, so I’m really blessed to get it,” Richardson said after practice Monday. “It’s been a minute since anybody got something, so I’m just kind of glad.

MSU is 4-1 since Richardson entered the starting lineup Feb. 8 against Oregon. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound combo guard is averaging 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and a steal a game in that span, shooting a sizzling 54.7% overall while going 8-for-20 from behind the arc for a team starved for 3-point shooting to complement its ability to score at the other two levels.

Izzo said Richardson – the son of former MSU and NBA star Jason Richardson – shows a dynamic ability to both shine individually and within the “strength in numbers” team concept MSU is using this year, attempting to maximize a deep rotation and wear opponents down.

“I think he’s getting more and more comfortable,” Izzo said before Monday’s practice. “I think he’s doing more, and that’s a credit to him. He’s definitely proving that he didn’t have to take a back seat to many people, many freshmen in this league, for sure.

“Where he’s a little different – some guys just can score the ball, he can drive it. He’s a phenomenal finisher, but he’s shot great from the 3. He’s been able to get his mid-range game going. He’s been able to get fouled, which he’s shooting 90% from the free-throw line. And he’s moving the ball to get other guys involved.”

For the season, Richardson averages 10.4 points and trails only Jaden Akins’ 13.0 points a game. He became the Spartans’ first Big Ten freshman of the week since Max Christie did it five times in 2021-22, his only season at MSU before leaving for the NBA. Christie, who was traded to Dallas earlier this month as part of the Luka Doncic deal, went to the Lakers in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft with the No. 35 overall pick.

That’s a decision that could come as well for Richardson, as a number of mock drafts list him as a potential first-round pick and some have him emerging as a possible lottery pick.

That is, if he leaves. For now, Izzo believes there are more immediate awards to come with the rewards his team is getting from Richardson.

“There’s no doubt that Jase Richardson has become a candidate to be all-freshman and freshman player of the year,” said Izzo, who hasn’t had a first-round pick since Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges in 2018. “I know there’s some better players, but and he’s done it in a lot of different areas.”

After the Spartans’ win Friday at U-M, redshirt freshman point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. said the emergence of Richardson is not necessarily something he saw coming, but also something he isn’t surprised about. Fears said his starting backcourt mate has “fit in like he’s been in college” since arriving over the summer.

“The team, everyone, we know his strengths,” Fears said. “So we try to put him in the position and be successful and do what he’s gotta do. And we know he can score, he can make shots, finish. He’s special.”

MSU hosts No. 12 Wisconsin on Sunday, travels to Iowa on March 6 and makes another quick turnaround to wrap up the regular season with the Wolverines on March 9 at home. If Richardson continues to blossom and keep up the rapid improvement, that could be his last game at Breslin Center.

If it is, he wants to leave as a champ. And he kept the focus on making a banner become reality.

“We look at it, and we got four tough games,” Richardson said. “But we know if we win these four, we lock it up. It’s been the talk around the locker room that we gotta lock in for these next four and win every one of them.”

Prediction

MSU 77, Maryland 73: The Terrapins’ talent and a feisty midweek homecourt crowd, much like Illinois did, gives MSU an immediate jolt. But as they have shown all season, the Spartans’ resolve comes to the forefront in the second half en route to a massive fourth straight win.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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