Third-year Florida guard [autotag]Will Richard[/autotag] flirted with the NBA after helping the Gators to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023-24 but opted to return for his senior year after receiving some invaluable feedback.
With key pieces of last year’s squad no longer with the program, Richard finds himself in a leadership role. He’s one of two Gators who has been in Gainesville for all three years of the [autotag]Todd Golden[/autotag] era and has 65 starts under his belt in the Orange and Blue.
“I’ve been here for three years, so I know what everybody wants,” Richard said. “I know what the coaches want. I feel like it’s a huge part about me, making sure I’m leading things the right way.”
Where Richard needs to improve to get drafted
There are a few areas Richard has focused on since speaking with NBA evaluators, namely defense and returning to form beyond the arc.
As a sophomore, Richard shot nearly 40% from three-point range, but that number dropped below 35% as he significantly increased his attempts per game.
Of course, there was frustration, but to fix things, Richard says it’s all about reps.
“You don’t want to keep missing; that’s never the goal,” he said. “But for me, this summer was just making sure I could find a consistent routine, whether that’s getting in before or after practice and then coming back late at night and just getting some shots up. At the end of the day, it’s all reps. So just trying to rep it out and just stay consistent.”
Defense is the other major focus point for Richard this year, but there’s also a teamwide initiative to improve on that side of the ball after a poor showing last season. Richard will likely see more time as an on-ball defender this year, something he’s been working on in practice.
“For me, I would just say being a better team defender,” Richard said when asked about changes. “Making sure I’m in the right spots on and off the ball. Just make sure I’m in help, being able to rotate, helping guys out when they’re beat and stuff like that, and just talking, being loud in the court…
“… We’re on defense every day for about 20 to 30 minutes. So it’s definitely been a huge focus.”
Todd Golden will lean on Richard this year
Florida head coach Todd Golden believes Richard can make that jump this season, but he also knows that players must be put in winning situations to get there. Richard has become a loud, vocal presence in practice and leads by example when he’s not chatting. That means hitting the weights and putting in the work to improve.
“His body is the best it’s ever been,” Richard said. “He’s more explosive than he’s ever been. He’s just maturing and getting bigger, stronger, more athletic. I think, naturally, he’ll make a jump and I anticipate his three-point percentage going up quite a bit from last year, kind of back to where it was the sophomore.”
For Florida to make it past the first round of the NCAA Tournament this year, Richard will have to be a driving force on the roster. He’s been witness to the development of the program under Todd Golden, but now it’s his time to take the reigns.
“It’s very satisfying for me,” Richard said while reflecting on his time in Gainesville. “The first year we were solid. We didn’t have the best year. Second year, we made the tournament. I feel like this year we can make it an even bigger jump. It’s been a blessing just being able to experience this and just continue to make growth as the years go by.”
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