The 2024 freshman class for Michigan State basketball may not have been spectacular like that 2016 class that featured Miles Bridges, Josh Langford, Cassius Winston, and Nick Ward or the 2023 class that had Xavier Booker, Coen Carr, Jeremy Fears Jr., and Gehrig Normand, but it has produced an instant star.
That's right, Jase Richardson has exceeded all expectations so far this season, averaging 9.6 points and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 56 percent from the floor and 43 percent from deep.
Jase, the son of MSU legend Jason Richardson, is averaging 22 minutes per game which is both shocking and impressive considering he's a true freshman under Tom Izzo and he's coming off the bench. When was the last time a true freshman came off the bench and averaged 20-plus minutes? It's been a while.
Not only is he one of the best freshmen in the nation, but he also happens to be one of the best sixth men.
In fact, according to analytics expert Evan Miyakawa, Richardson is the sixth-most impactful sixth man in college basketball through the month of January.
Here are the most impactful 6th men in the country at https://t.co/cegyfz96ax:
— Evan Miyakawa (@EvanMiya) January 28, 2025
Tahaad Pettiford tops the list. His electricity off the bench for Auburn is undeniable. Thomas Haugh has also been huge for Florida. pic.twitter.com/z5yS4iK6aU
Richardson is behind some big names in college hoops and his impact has been undeniable through the first three months of the season and he's going to be massive in this stretch run over the next two months. If Michigan State is going to make a run at the national title, Richardson is going to need to keep playing at a high level.
How good is he? All you have to do is look at his past two games. Against Rutgers, he scored a career-high 20 points and made 67 percent of his shots from the floor and against Minnesota, he only scored six points and was off offensively, but he had eight assists, a career-best.
Enjoy him while you can, Spartan fans, because he'll be in the NBA soon.