By William Britt

Collegiate sophomore Donovan Richardson (‘25) is a rising basketball star in the state of Virginia. Richardson came to Collegiate from Bailey Bridge Middle School in Midlothian during the pandemic, joining the Cougars at the start of the 2020-21 school year. Collegiate basketball did not have a season that year, as COVID-19 precautions were still in full force. Richardson is a 6’6″ guard with a long athletic build who can play and guard multiple positions on the floor. Richardson has played two seasons with the Cougars and took some time to reflect on his basketball career at Collegiate so far. 

Last school year was Richardson’s first year playing basketball for Collegiate, a varsity team that was one of the best Collegiate basketball teams in recent history and one that I was privileged to also be a part of. The Cougars finished second in the Virginia Prep League, going 14-11 in the regular season and 7-3 in league play. The Cougars also won their first round VISAA state playoff game against Flint Hill, becoming the first team to do so in over a decade. Richardson played a strong role on this team, starting as a sophomore and contributing significantly on both the offensive and defensive ends, using his versatility, athleticism, and big frame. 

Richardson shooting a three pointer. Photo courtesy of Donovan Richardson.

When I asked Richardson about the ’21-’22 season, he said, “It was a lot of fun. We had a lot of strong seniors. [They] took care of us new varsity guys… My role was basically spot up shooting and getting to the basket every now and then.” Richardson explained that his role that season was “really defined” and that was something that was “good for him.” This defined role allowed him to thrive, only having to focus on certain aspects to help the team win.

The summer of 2022 saw Richardson pick up his first two Division I basketball offers from The College of Holy Cross and Austin Peay State University, with another one coming from Radford University later in the year. This past fall he also took unofficial visits to Virginia and Virginia Tech. 

Richardson surveys the defense at St. Christopher’s. Photo credit: @wrightmedia on Instagram.

This past season was a disappointing year for Collegiate varsity basketball. The Cougars finished 10-16 in the regular season and lost to cross-town rival St. Christopher’s in the first round of the Prep League Tournament. The Cougars failed to reach the VISAA state playoffs. 

Before this season, Richardson reclassified into the class of 2025. Richardson’s role changed immensely this season, as he went from being an off-ball wing to a ball-dominant guard. Richardson commanded the offense from the guard position and had the ball in his hands constantly. Richardson also saw himself become a captain on the team as just a sophomore. On the differences between last season and this one, Richardson said, “This year, I took more of a leadership role. I’ve never had a leadership role on a team before… I had to take on more of a facilitating role and a scoring role, and I struggled a lot early.” 

Richardson went on to say that he thought he struggled most of the season, and that “it wasn’t the season any of us wanted.” Despite his stated struggles, his 17-point performance in a close loss to Trinity Episcopal School, and 14-point, 4-rebound, and 4-assist performance against St. Christopher’s late in the season, show otherwise. Richardson’s performances kept the Cougars fighting in those games and gave them a chance to win both.

Although the Cougars did not have a successful season record, Richardson said he “learned a lot from this season. It wasn’t the best season, but you are going to have those, and we have to get back.” Richardson also said that he believed the lessons on leadership he learned this year being a sophomore captain will benefit the program and him in the years to come. Richardson believes that he grew as a player this year and that this adversity will benefit him in the future.

Richardson playing for Team Loaded VA. Photo courtesy of Donovan Richardson.

Looking ahead, Richardson will be competing on the Adidas 3SSB AAU circuit with Team Loaded VA. Team Loaded is one of the top AAU programs on the East Coast, and the Adidas 3SSB circuit has some of the best players and teams in the country. Richardson said that this summer he is really looking to improve both his confidence and shot-making ability. He also said that he has already seen improvements in both areas in the first few tournaments. High-level shot making ability, paired with Richardson’s 6’6” frame and athletic ability, will likely make him highly sought after by college programs. 

In addition to the offers he’s already had, recently St. Joseph’s, Mississippi State, and South Carolina have expressed interest. Richardson said that by June 15 he should have some college visits planned, and coaches will be able to reach out to him directly so he will have a better sense of who has a strong interest in his future on the court.