BYU’s visit to Kansas on Jan. 31 was expected to be a memorable duel between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson.
But it was Richie Saunders who ended up stealing the show.
With the eyes of the basketball world upon him, Saunders led all scorers with a game-high 33 points. He drained six 3-pointers, grabbed 10 rebounds and added two steals and a block on the historic Allen Fieldhouse hardwood.
In a contest featuring the likely No. 1 and 2 overall picks in June’s NBA draft, Saunders was “the best player on the floor,” his head coach Kevin Young said postgame.
By that point in the season, Saunders was already viewed as a lock for the NBA, and his masterpiece against Kansas vaulted the senior sharpshooter into first round discussion.
Two weeks later, however, his NBA future appeared to be in potential jeopardy.
Saunders tore his ACL less than a minute into BYU’s Feb. 14 matchup with Colorado, ending his college career after 128 games and well before he could get one final crack at the NCAA Tournament.
“My story has never been one of ease, and while I didn’t plan for this, my career is not over,” Saunders wrote in an Instagram post announcing his ACL tear. “I will return with more fight and more grit than before. My goals haven’t changed.”
Fortunately for Saunders, those goals are still very much on the table. His ACL recovery is “ahead of schedule,” and plenty of NBA teams are interested in his services, according to Young.
While his injury knocked him down from potential first round consideration, it’s a safe bet that Saunders will hear his name called in the second round on June 24.
“I still think Richie healthy had a late first round grade, which means in this draft in particular, he would have been drafted somewhere between probably 22 and 30. I think that’s a very realistic spot that you could have seen Richie Saunders in had he not been hurt,” ESPN analyst Sean Farnham said this past week on ‘BYU Sports Nation.’
“... But now it sounds like he’s going to be picked in the second round, which is unbelievable for a guy who’s a four-year guy, older and coming off an ACL ... It says a ton about his value as a player and a person.”
In 25 games during the 2025-26 season, Saunders averaged career bests in points (18.0), rebounds (5.4), assists (2.1) and steals (1.7), while shooting 37.6% from 3-point range. He received All-Big 12 Second Team honors, having been named to the league’s First Team as a junior.
During BYU’s Sweet 16 run in 2025, Saunders became a household name in college basketball by averaging 22.0 points with 5.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals while making 42% of his triples across three tournament games.
“A high scoring guard who can get hot from outside,” reads Saunders’ NBA Draft Room scouting report. “Has really nice shooting form and gets good elevation on his jumper. (Has) a quick release. Plays with a lot of passion and fire. Is a leader on the court and brings great energy on both ends.”
Saunders first found his way in BYU’s rotation as a freshman due to his scrappiness, defensive tenacity and “uncommon motor,” to borrow Young’s words, ultimately becoming an especially valuable glue guy for the Cougars.
The Riverton native took a major leap in his junior campaign to emerge as a legitimate top scoring option, yet never lost his “hair on fire” hustle that made him so hard to take off the floor in the first place.
“I think that a lot of teams are impressed as they continue to go back and watch the film and see his motor, his IQ, his energy, his leadership, all the intangibles outside of the fact that he can actually stroke the ball,” Farnham said.
“... Anytime you watch Richie when he’s on the floor, it’s really hard for you not to know that Richie Saunders is on the floor ... Richie doesn’t even have to score for you to know that he’s out on the court. He’s going to make some plays somewhere that you’re going to know that he’s out there. I think a lot of teams are starting to see that, and they understand the value of having somebody like that on your roster.”
Yahoo Sports currently lists Saunders at No. 31 on its NBA draft big board, with ESPN ranking him as the No. 41 prospect in his class.
Every major mock draft includes Saunders as a second round pick, ranging from Tankathon slotting him at No. 35 (to the San Antonio Spurs) to ESPN putting him at No. 52 (to the Los Angeles Clippers).
In between those, The Athletic predicts Saunders to the Boston Celtics at No. 40 overall, and both Yahoo and Bleacher Report believe he’ll land with the Miami Heat as the No. 41 selection.
Considering how many previously projected non-lottery players are now returning to college, it feels more likely to see Saunders drafted in the first half of the second round than between No. 46-60.
“Saunders is a hard-nosed, two-way wing who plays with manic energy, hustling around the floor hunting for steals on defense and jumpers on offense,” wrote Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo.
“The team that gets him knows exactly what they’re gonna get out of him. He’s also skilled, though, with a quick-trigger jumper, soft touch on floaters, and a feel for moving the ball. With less than ideal size and athleticism, he more likely projects as a solid role player.”
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic shared on O’Connor’s podcast that he graded Saunders as a first round talent, comparing him to a pair of Cleveland Cavaliers guards in Max Strus and Sam Merrill, the latter being a Utah native and Latter-day Saint returned missionary just like Saunders.
Strus averaged 11.2 points and 5.0 rebounds this season as a 40% 3-point shooter, while Merrill scored 12.8 points per night, shot 42% from long distance and even dropped 23 points in a do-or-die Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“(Saunders is) not quite as athletic as Strus, and a little bit bigger than Merrill,” Vecenie said. “Awesome shooter. I think he does a way better job defensively than what people seem to give him credit for. He cares on that end.”
O’Connor agreed with Vecenie’s assessment and sang his own praises for Saunders.
“I feel like with the connective passing and the defensive effort, I’d be shocked if he’s not a longtime pro in the NBA,” O’Connor said.
“The torn ACL, unfortunately, ended his career at BYU, just a heartbreaking ending. Hopefully it ends up a blessing in disguise for him, and he lands in the perfect situation, because I love Richie Saunders’ game.”
Amid all the different possibilities for his initial NBA fate, Saunders is choosing to have faith and believe wherever he lands will be God’s plan for him.
“I’m going to trust in God and that He is in charge,” Saunders told the Daily Universe. “I often feel like if I can just do more and more, then I’ll get what I want. But in this case, it’s a different lesson. I’ve had to learn to accept the path that God needs me to be on and stop trying to control everything.”
