Kadary Richmond and Davon Smith are used to dominating the ball and taking control of games for their respective teams.
Things will be different next season at St. John’s, and the two lead guards are embracing that.
They think playing with other point guards, and therefore each other, will make it easier for both of them.
“I feel like we motivate each other,” Smith said Wednesday at a Name, Image and Likeness event with Red Storm fans at Applebee’s in Queens. “I’ve been playing pretty well in practice. Playing with other guards, other athletes, I think it’s going to show a different side of my game.”
Richmond added: “Just knowing that there’s someone else out there. [like myself] Defenders have to worry about passing, scoring and other aspects. [will help me].”
The pair of fifth-year transfers, who rank among the top guards who have entered the transfer portal, verbally committed to St. John’s University within a 24-hour window in early May. They are coach Rick Pitino’s biggest additions this spring.
They have been getting to know each other over the last month through summer training.
Richmond and Smith are very different players.
The 6-foot-10 native of Decatur, Georgia, is an agile guard and a one-man fastbreak speedster.
He recorded five triple-doubles at Utah last year, setting a Pac-12 single-season record.
The 6-foot-6 Richmond was an All-Big East first-team selection last season at Seton Hall University and plays at a more methodical pace.
He’s good at post-ups and has a strong mid-range game.
Both are great at getting into the lane and creating chances for their teammates, and they combined for 12.2 assists per game last year.
“I think they’re very versatile players. They can play one or two,” teammate RJ Lewis said. “They’re both very good passers, high-IQ passers. They get everybody involved. They like to share the ball and get other guys moving. … I’m really looking forward to playing both of those guys. I’m intrigued by their style of play, their speed up and down the court, their ability to move the ball.”
The only question mark regarding the pairing is perimeter shooting.
Richmond and Smith are not known as shooters — neither averaged more than 2.5 3-point attempts in their four years in college — but Smith shot 40.8 percent from the 3-point line last year.
Richmond briefly considered a move to the NBA after last season, but received feedback that he needed to improve his three-point shot.
Pitino’s background in player development was a big factor in his decision to move to St. John’s.
With less playmaking responsibility, he’ll have more opportunities to showcase that side of his game.
“I’m taking more shots with catch-and-shoot stuff and really putting all that work into my jump shot has paid off,” said Richmond, a Brooklyn native.
One of the focuses will be to get a quicker release and not hesitate. What I like most about Smith is his relentless motor.
“He never stops on both ends of the court, he just keeps going, he’s very aggressive,” Richmond said.
Smith praised Richmond for his new teammate’s toughness as a guard, his perseverance in the paint and his selflessness.
St. John’s is hoping that Smith and Richmond will help it pick up the pace next season, and rising sophomore Simeon Wilcher, who Pitino has praised, will also play a key role.
He’s already noticed the difference in the speed at which the Johnnies can play.
“We’re going to be a lot quicker than we were last year, a lot faster tempo on offense,” Wilcher said. “We have a lot of great athletes and players that can move up and down the court.
“It’s going to be hard to get people to stop and do this year. We feel like we can do really big things.”
