FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (May 21, 2021) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team's 2021-22 incoming class received a sizeable boost on Friday with the announcement of Ezekiel Richards, an athletic big man, with three seasons of eligibility remaining. Richards joins the Lumberjacks after three seasons, including a medical redshirt year, at Santa Clara.
"This is a great get for our program for a number of reasons," said head coach
Shane Burcar. "The thing that really caught my attention with Zeke is his integrity. I know his coaches at Santa Clara and they spoke highly of him. When he's playing with a chip on his shoulder, he can help us with his size. It's a win-win situation for everyone and we're looking forward to having Zeke in the program for three years."
Richards is a 6-10 post who will immediately be the tallest player on NAU's roster. Out of Oak Park, Calif., Richards played in 46 games across his three seasons at Santa Clara. He averaged 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds, while shooting 52.4 percent from the field.
Richards played in 29 games and earned five starts as a true freshman during the 2018-19 season in which he led the Broncos in field goal percentage (.531). Richards then saw action in seven games, all off the bench, the following season before suffering a foot injury that eventually sidelined him for the rest of the year.
During the most recently completed 2020-21 campaign, Richards appeared in 10 games and enjoyed his best outing of the season in a season-high 14 minutes against San Diego. Richards totaled five points and pulled down a career-best six rebounds – four on the offensive glass – versus the Toreros.
Richards joins
Justus Rainwater (Enumclaw, Wash./Florida Gulf Coast) as another offseason addition to the Lumberjacks' frontcourt with the pair expected to join rising redshirt sophomore
Carson Towt in the post.
"We add Zeke with Justus Rainwater and
Carson Towt and that's a tough group of guys," Burcar said. "We want an inside presence whether that's a
Brooks DeBisschop, a
Carson Towt or a
Nik Mains. In addition to finishing possessions and keep possessions alive, Zeke can also score the ball in the post, especially with his size, and I can't wait for Coach (
Tyler Ojanen) to start working with him."
As a prepster, Richards was a second team all-league selection in 2018 and helped lead Oak Park High School to a 21-7 record, including an 8-0 record in the Coastal Canyon League, his senior year. Richards was a multi-sport athlete who also played football and lacrosse.
NAU has now officially added four transfers with
Jalen Cone (Walkertown, N.C./Virginia Tech) and
Mason Stark (Chandler, Ariz./Northern State) alongside Richards and Rainwater. The Lumberjacks also will welcome in two incoming freshmen in
Jayden Jackson (Milwaukee, Wis./Whitefish Bay HS) and
Colin Carey (Peoria, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain HS).
To stay up to date with the NAU men's basketball team, follow the Lumberjacks on
Twitter and
Instagram.
