Andy Larsen, the Jazz Beat writer for the SL Trib, shared his thoughts on Richie Saunders as an NBA prospect during his 'Triple Team' report after the Jazz game last night / early this morning (March 26, 2025). I thought they were actually fair and insightful. His full comments are linked below but here's the gist of what he said. He also linked Richie's highlight video which I included below.

Headline: "Despite coming into the season nearly entirely off the NBA radar, Richie Saunders' season this year with BYU makes him actually a pretty good NBA Draft prospect."

Upside: "he’s a 6-5, 200-pound shooting guard who has made 43% of his threes this year, is really quite athletic for the collegiate level and probably about average for the NBA, plays hard and has good technique defensively, and is a decent playmaker besides."

Downside: "he’s 23, and will turn 24 in September. Given typical age curves, he’s probably not going to improve very much compared to your typical 19 year old."

He goes on to wonder if entering the draft this year or coming back to BYU is the smarter option, weighing the variables of money (he'd make more at BYU next year), age (he'll be 25 when he enters the draft if he stays another year at BYU which is less than ideal), and playing with AJ (not having the ball as much as he did this year) will be a benefit or deterrent to his draft position the following year.

He sums it up like this: "It’s a tough choice! But one it’s cool that Saunders gets the opportunity to make. He never was really heralded as a future NBA guy, but I think he really has a chance after a terrific season this year."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlLu2koPSjA