Will Richarson, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’26, was named the Atlantic 10 (A10) Rookie of the Week for his performances on the men’s basketball team from Feb. 13-19. The award, which was announced on Feb. 20, is the first for Richardson, who struggled in the early season to live up to expectations.

Coming out of high school, Richardson was a well-touted player, rated 3-stars across the board by multiple outlets. He is a 6-foot-2-inch guard from Teaneck, New Jersey, who graduated from Bergen Catholic High School in 2022.

At the time of his commitment to Fordham men’s basketball in November 2022, the Rams were still nominally headed by Kyle Neptune. 

“Will embodies what it means to be a Fordham basketball player,” Neptune said when announcing the signing. “Off the floor, he’s a mature young man and diligent student. On the floor, he’s a tough, gritty, intelligent basketball player that loves the game and — most importantly to our staff — loves to compete and win.”

Despite this, Richardson struggled at first with his new team. In his first 15 games, he averaged below 30% shooting, and his presence was hardly felt on the floor. He is now averaging 18 minutes per game and producing 6.3 points. 

Since January, he has been a regular starter, and his performance has improved dramatically. On Jan. 14, in a game against La Salle University, Richardson showed up with 19 points, including three 3-pointers. He is now ranked third in the A10 in 3-point shooting efficiency, at 43%. Since the La Salle match, he has scored in every game, and the experience he is getting on the court is starting to show. 

On Feb. 18, Richardson dropped a season-high of 21 points and six threes against Virginia Commonwealth University in an otherwise crushing 80-61 defeat. With a commendable 8-point performance in the Rams’ 78-63 dismantling of St. Bonaventure University, Richardson was an immediate contender for the A10’s weekly award. 

It is a deserving recognition for his contributions on the hardwood. His role in the starting lineup alongside veterans like Darius Quisenberry, Graduate School of Arts and Science ’23, is surely daunting, but with the A10 championship approaching on March 1, Head Coach Keith Urgo seems to have full confidence in the budding star. 

“He’s been trying to find his way, and we’ve been telling him whatever you do, look to score first,” Urgo said. “When he’s aggressive and looking to play fast, he can be very effective for us.”

The Rams will face Loyola University Chicago in the Windy City on Feb. 22. They return on Feb. 25 to face off against the University of Rhode Island. Both of the matches will be opportunities for Richardson to feed off his confident shooting.