Calipari lands fourth commit as Head Hog: 2024 5-star Billy Richmond

LITTLE ROCK — The fourth Arkansas commitment of the John Calipari era as Head Hog is now on the board as talented 2024 prospect and recent Kentucky de-commit Billy Richmond pledged to the Razorbacks on Friday.

Richmond visited Arkansas on Wednesday, April 24, before committing to Calipari and the Hoop Hogs.

Richmond (6-6 wing, Camden High School in New Jersey, native of Memphis, composite national No. 25 / 5-star prospect) originally committed to Kentucky in December 2023 but de-committed from the Wildcats on Tuesday, April 16, nearly a week after Calipari left the Wildcats after 15 seasons to accept the head coaching job at Arkansas. 

On Sunday, April 21, Richmond took part in the prestigious 2024 Jordan Brand Classic all-star game, finishing with 4 points (2-of-6 field goals, including 0-of2 from 3), 1 rebound, and 1 assist in 9 minutes.

As a senior at Camden (NJ) High School in ’23-24, Richmond averaged 17.6 points (he made 24 three-pointers in 30 games, and he shot 73.2% from the free throw line), 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals per contest.

He becomes Calipari’s fourth commitment since coming to Arkansas, which also makes him only the fourth scholarship player on the Razorbacks roster that can have as many as 13 scholarship players for the upcoming ’24-25 season. He joins Kentucky freshman transfer Zvonimir Ivisic (7-2 forward / center) and 2024 5-star McDonald’s All Americans Karter Knox and Boogie Fland, all of whom pledged to Arkansas earlier in April.

Richmond is an elite downhill slasher and transition finisher as a rim-hunter who combines size, length, explosive athleticism, and a willingness to take on contact to beat defenders for punishing dunks. The lefty is comfortable going to his mid-range pull-up game, and he continues to progress as a shooter from distance.

He projects as an eventual plus-defender if not elite as he already exhibits defensive playmaking instincts in terms of blocking shots in help situations and as an on-ball defender, and jumping passings lanes for steals while using his length and quickness to get deflections to disrupt offensive flow and execution.