Note #057: Richie Saunders (Net-Scorching Wing)
Four-year Brigham Young Cougar Richie Saunders, a Utah native, was taken with the second pick of the second round in the 2026 NBA Draft (after his former college teammate, AJ Dybantsa, was selected with the first pick of the first round).
Saunders' senior 2025-26 season in Provo was cut short after just 25 GP due to a torn ACL. He was still a skillful shooter:
- 85/135 2P/2PA (63.0 2P%)
- 64/170 3P/3PA (37.6 3P%)
- 89/109 FT/FTA (81.7 FT%)
Since 1980-81, just one NCAA Division I men's player besides Saunders shot 63+ 2P% (min. 135 2PA), 37.5+ 3P% (min. 170 3PA), 81.5+ FT% (min. 105 FTA) in a single season:
Dylan Windler (2018-19) - 143/217 2P/2PA (65.9%), 100/233 3P/3PA (42.9%), 116/137 FT/FTA (84.7%)
Windler, a senior in the season above, was the 26th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
If we remove FTs entirely, five more seniors have hit the 2P and 3P baselines:
305-399 FGA
1. Amanze Egekeze (2017-18) - 89/139 2P/2PA (64.0%), 96/226 3P/3PA (42.5%)
2. Mike Gansey (2005-06) - 129/196 2P/2PA (65.8%), 75/175 3P/3PA (42.9%)
3. Nazareth Mitrou-Long (2016-17) - 87/136 2P/2PA (64.0%), 98/255 3P/3PA (38.4%)
400+FGA
4. Ian Clark (2012-13) - 115/178 2P/2PA (64.6%), 102/222 3P/3PA (45.9%!)
5. Darlinstone Dubar (2023-24) - 150/231 2P/2PA (64.9%), 73/183 3P/3PA (39.9%)
Egekeze and Clark, like Windler, all accomplished the above while playing at Belmont.
And just one sophomore has met those 2P and 3P marks since 1980-81:
Alex Karaban (2023-24) - 110/172 2P/2PA (64.0%), 81/214 3P/3PA (37.9%)
The two-time National Champion Karaban was selected 29th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
And only one freshman has reached those 2- and 3-point thresholds:
Lonzo Ball (2016-17) - 109/149 2P/2PA (73.2%!), 80/194 3P/3PA (41.2%)
One player besides Saunders in 2025-26 qualified for the 2P and 3P criteria as well:
Jack Karasinski - 141/207 2P/2PA (68.1%), 71/171 3P/3PA (41.5%
Karasinski, a junior that season, transferred from Bellarmine to Northwestern for 2026-27.
In 2025-26, here were Saunders' per game stats (31.4 MP/G):
- 18.0 PPG
- 5.8 RPG
- 2.1 APG
- 1.7 SPG
Four others that season besides Saunders averaged 18+ PPG, 5.5+ RPG, 2+ APG, 1.5+ SPG:
Seniors
1. Prophet Johnson - 18.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.6 SPG (30 GP, 35.4 MP/G)
2. Jordan Riley - 23.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.9 SPG (30 GP, 37.8 MP/G)
Sophomores
3. Kahmare Holmes - 19.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.0 SPG (26 GP, 31.9 MP/G)
Freshmen
4. Caleb Wilson - 19.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.5 SPG (24 GP, 31.3 MP/G)
Three (Riley (ECU) - East, Wilson (UNC) - North, Holmes (Wofford) - South) directional Carolinas represented!
Windler gusts in:
Note #017 (Drew Fielder) / Note #044 (Trevon Brazile) / Note #056 (Henri Veesaar)
The eldest Ball brother has been around:
Note #012 (Eian Elmer) / Note #013 (Nikolas Khamenia) / Note #046 (Quadir Copeland)
Johnson jousts for position in Note #032 on Mark Mitchell, and Note #035 on Aaron Nkrumah.
And Holmes has a home in Note #045 on Otega Oweh and Note #050 on Ryan Conwell, both of whom were selected in the second round of the 2026 Draft like Saunders.