The NBA Draft is quickly approaching, and this year’s event is one that Michigan State fans won’t want to miss.
is expected to represent the Spartans, with many projecting him as a lottery pick following an impressive freshman year in East Lansing.
Although Richardson has long been seen as a top-14 selection, recent mock drafts have shown a wider range of predictions.
In a new mock draft by CBS Sports’ Cameron Salerno, Richardson is projected to slide to the No. 20 pick, which is held by the Miami Heat.
“Richardson would be an exciting addition to the Heat,” Salerno noted. “His draft stock climbed steadily over the 2024–25 college season. He began the year coming off the bench but emerged as Michigan State’s top player. Richardson excelled as a mid-range shooter and showed great finishing ability at the rim during his only season under Tom Izzo.”
The Miami Heat are a historically strong franchise, having reached the NBA Finals at least once in each of the past three decades. Their most recent appearance came in 2023, but they’ve struggled in the playoffs since, failing to make it past the first round.
While the Heat have Tyler Herro locked in as their starting shooting guard, they could benefit from adding depth at the position. Using a first-round pick to address that need would be a smart move.
If Miami were to draft Jase Richardson, it would mark a homecoming of sorts. The promising guard played his high school basketball at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami.
Richardson is no stranger to change. Before attending Columbus, he played at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas. He was born in Berkeley, California, and also spent part of his childhood in Denver, Colorado.
Given his background, Richardson appears well-equipped to handle the transition to the NBA—regardless of location—but returning to familiar territory could ease the jump from college to the pros after just one season.
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