Kadary Richmond embracing sky-high St. John’s expectations: ‘Know why we’re here’
Red Storm point guard Kadary Richmond — a graduate student who transferred from Syracuse to Seton Hall in 2021 then from Seton Hall to St. John’s this year — takes a shot at some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby before the college basketball season tips off.
Q: Can you give an example of Coach Rick Pitino’s motivation?
A: Coach showed us a reel on Instagram of [Muhammad Ali] talking about never going to parties and focusing on his craft and stuff like that.
Q: How does he motivate?
A: It depends on the day, I would say. Some days it’s like louder than usual, and some days it’s like normal conversation or a meeting, so it just depends how he’s feeling.
Q: He’s known for sometimes being hard on his players. How do you feel about that?
A: I think it’s good, because you can’t afford to have any bad days with someone that’s constantly in your ear or constantly pushing you to be the best you could be day in, day out.
Q: What would you sum up the opening message he gave to the team?
A: That we all know why we’re here, and that we could do big things if we allow ourself to do big things, and keep our mind focused on what we’re trying to accomplish.
Q: What will be the on-court personality of this St. John’s team?
A: A lot of aggression, in your face, trying to turn you over, trying to make things hard for you, trying to run up and down, score as much we can, stop you as much as we can.
Q: Describe the first time you met Coach Pitino.
A: It was kind of shocking. You always hear about him, see him on TV. But sitting there, actually talking to him is like a different experience. People always talk about wanting to play for him, then you finally get to meet somebody that everybody wants you to play for and wants to be around, so I think it was cool.
Q: What is it about him that makes everybody wants to play for him?
A: I guess everybody feels he’s like a player’s coach and allows his player to voice their opinions, and he’s open to conversations, so I’d say that’s probably why.
Q: How good of a dresser is he?
A: He’s clean. I like it.
Q: Describe the pressure of great expectations for you.
A: That means I’m doing something right, because if I wasn’t, nobody would be expecting anything from me.
Q: How do you deal with the pressure?
A: I have a great group of guys in the locker room, so it’s just going to make my job easier.
Q: Where does your backcourt rank in college basketball?
A: We’re up there with the best of them. Whoever feels they’re the best, we’re right there with them.
Q: What is special about this backcourt?
A: There’s a lot of different dynamics. We got speed, we got a bruiser, we got a scorer, we got shooters.
Q: Where do you fit in?
A: I would say the bruiser. … I’m the biggest one out of all of them, so I just take that role.
Q: What is it like being a 6-foot-6 point guard?
A: It has its advantages offensively. Defensively it’s a little tricky because there’s not many point guards this tall, so it’s kind of tricky.
Q: Do you watch clips of Magic Johnson or old-time NBA point guards?
A: If it happens to come on my phone I’m like scrolling yeah, but I don’t go out searching for it.
Q: Do you have any favorites?
A: I like SGA [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander], James Harden and Luca [Doncic], those three.
Q: Why would you buy a ticket to watch Kadary play basketball?
A: A lot of great plays. … He has fun out there, so I’ll watch him play.
Q: Describe your on-court mentality.
A: Just to get the best shot for me and my team, and just go at whoever’s in front of me, and just be very tenacious for those 40 minutes.
Q: Personal goals?
A: Just winning. When you win, all the personal golds come and all the recognition comes.
Q: You’re known as a UConn killer.
A: They just won back-to-back championships, so I feel like that’s a good thing. I feel like anybody would get juiced for that game or have juice.
Q: How’s your 3-point shot?
A: Getting better. I like how it feels.
Q: Where is your level of confidence from 1-10 on the floor right now?
A: I’d probably say a 10. I feel like it’s always been at a 10, just because I know what I’m capable of out there.
Q: Describe the Big East Conference.
A: I think it’s one of the best conferences in the country. Any night you could lose, you got to show up every night, there’s no like real slouches, like no game where you could take a night off, so I feel like that always keeps you on your toes and makes you play your best.
Q: Where does St. John’s rate in the Big East?
A: Right up there with the best. I’ll take us against anybody.
Q: Some of your teammates: Zuby Ejiofor.
A: Monster.
Q: How so?
A: Strong … hard to move off his spot.
Q: Deivon Smith.
A: Fast. Very fast.
Q: Simeon Wilcher.
A: Athletic scorer.
Q: RJ Luis Jr.
A: Dawg.
Q: Brady Dunlap.
A: Shooter.
Q: Jaiden Glover.
A: Talented.
Q: Aaron Scott.
A: Dawg.
Q: Vince Iwuchukwu.
A: I sold just say he’s a monster.
Q: Lefteris Liotopoulos.
A: Shooter. He’s been shooting it lately very well.
Q: Sadiku Ibine Ayo.
A: Dawg.
Q: What do you think about playing eight games at the Garden?
A: I think it’s cool. I only get to go to the Big East Tournament, so having that as a home court kind of is a big thing.
Q: Did you go to the Garden as a kid?
A: I played a high school championship game there.
Q: What was that feeling like playing at the Garden?
A: It was special. I used to like Melo [Carmelo Anthony] and stuff like that. When I played I thought of like the Christmas games I watched.
Q: What do you think of Knicks star Jalen Brunson?
A: I like what he’s doing for New York. Winning is nice in New York. You get recognized everywhere.
Q: Why did you leave Seton Hall?
A: I feel like that chapter had closed.
Q: When you made that decision, did you get sent hate emails?
A: It was only an uproar for that day, or those two days where it did happen where I did announce I was coming to St. John’s, so that was the only time, I would say, I received anything.
Q: What do you expect when you play at Seton Hall?
A: I expect it to be a good atmosphere. A lot of boos, but it’s just another game.
Q: From your Instagram: Love me or hate me you got to choose one side.
A: You can’t be in the middle. You can’t be on both sides of the fence, so you got to choose a side.
Q: Do you have any other favorite sayings?
A: No. I learned something new since I came here though: Nothing changes if nothing changes.
Q: Whatever comes to mind: Kevin Willard.
A: He’s a great guy. I spent a year with him. He did well for me in that year. I appreciate him.
Q: Shaheen Holloway.
A: I spent two years with him. Appreciative of what he’s taught me and him allowing me to be the player I am when I was at Seton Hall.
Q: Jim Boeheim.
A: We had a tough start. I was young. I also appreciate him, because without that experience I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
Q: Where were the best playground games growing up?
A: For me it was any park, but where people go in Brooklyn is Gersh Park in East New York.
Q: What is the biggest obstacle you had to overcome?
A: I’d probably say losing my grandma. She spent most of her time in Haiti, she only came in the summer, she didn’t like the cold.
Q: When did she pass away?
A: The summer of my freshman year, I think, going into Syracuse.
Q: What drives you?
A: Seeing how hard my parents worked when I was living in the house with them every day and seeing them … do what they had to do to take care of the family.
Q: What do your parents do?
A: My dad’s [Kijana] a carpenter, and my mom [Florence] helps people with disabilities.
Q: “Kooks” is your nickname.
A: [Got it] playing basketball in the parks outside in Brooklyn, and across New York.
Q: What does “Kooks” mean?
A: Like cooking.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: [Mahatma] Ghandi, Muhammad Ali, Barack Obama.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: I like all the “Fridays”.
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Martin Lawrence.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Michelle Rodriguez.
Q: Favorite entertainer?
A: Lil Durk.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Mac and cheese, and barbecued ribs.
Q: Career goals?
A: To play professionally, to be able to take care of my family, and then probably when the ball stops bouncing, probably be like an agent or a coach or something like that.
Q: Why are you proud to be from Brooklyn?
A: Just because it’s a great place, a lot of people come from there. A lot of people say it’s hard to grow up there, and make it out of there, and I feel like I’m one of the people who’s on the verge of making it out of there.
Q: Why is it hard to make it out of there?
A: There’s a lot of distractions, a lot of different things you could be.
Q: Did you see a lot of tough things growing up?
A: Yeah, but I guess that’s who made me who I am today, and I’m just glad I don’t have to revert back to those days anymore, or have to go back and be a part of that.
Q: What is your March Madness dream?
A: Hoisting the trophy in March … in April, I mean.
Q: How much noise do you think this team can make in March?
A: If we just stick to what we do and know what we do and who are, I feel like we can make a big run.
Q: What would your message to St. John’s fans be? About you and about this team?
A: I’m a guy that’s going to play to win, night in, night out, offense and defense, and I’d say my teammates are the same way, regardless of the score, who’s scoring, who’s not scoring, we’re just all trying to win. And we’d love to see you see pack out the arenas that we play in, both Carnesecca and MSG.
Q: St. John’s fans have been waiting a long time for a St. John’s team that can win big. What would you tell them?
A: We’re here. That’s my message.
