Jeff Borzello
Paul Biancardi
Paul Biancardi
Basketball Recruiting
National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com
18 years of coaching experience at Division I level
Former Horizon League coach of the year at Wright State
Multiple Authors
Five-star wing Jaxon Richardson has committed to Alabama, he told ESPN on Thursday, picking the Crimson Tide over a final list that also included Creighton, Ole Miss and USC.
Richardson is the younger brother of Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson and the son of former NBA veteran Jason Richardson. Alabama’s pursuit of Jaxon’s brother helped him develop a relationship with Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats and his program very early in the process.
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“They have been there since my freshman year,” Richardson said. “I felt very comfortable with them as people and their style of play, up-tempo on offense, fits my game.”
“Coach Oats is a math guy like me, analytical,” he added. “I have known him since he recruited my brother. He has been close to our family for a while. When I recently went to the hospital for the flu, he and coach Preston Murphy called to check on me.”
Richardson has been to the Tuscaloosa campus multiple times.
“I want to help Alabama win at all costs,” he said. “I did go to a football game this past November. The atmosphere was ridiculous. All the support was amazing; the fans were so energetic.”
A 6-foot-6 wing from Southeastern Prep Academy (Florida), Richardson was recently named a McDonald’s All-American and is ranked No. 17 in the SC Next 100. He averaged 13.0 points and 6.9 rebounds on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and summer with the Florida Rebels, shooting better than 62% from inside the arc.
Richardson is one of the most elite explosive athletes in the high school game. He boasts a long frame and plays with energy and has already demonstrated the ability to guard multiple positions — which should help immediately at Alabama, which prefers to consistently switch defensively. He also has the natural anticipation to jump passing lanes and will get his share of steals, charges and blocks.
Offensively, Richardson puts pressure on the defense and plays best in transition to finalize lob passes, finish run-outs with speed or go beyond the arc to knock down a 3. With the ball in his hands, he is a strong straight-line driver who can really finish, owning an explosive vertical leap and quick second jump.
Richardson is the third top-35 prospect in Alabama’s recruiting class, joining Qayden Samuels and Tarris Bouie. He’s the program’s first five-star commitment since the 2024 class, and the fifth for Alabama since 2021.
The Crimson Tide’s current group was ranked No. 15 in ESPN’s last recruiting class rankings, but Richardson’s commitment should vault them into the top 10.
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