Sunday, October 30, 2016

Shane Richards selected by Erie BayHawks in NBA D-League Draft

Shane Richards becomes latest Manhattan alumnus in professional ranks, as the Jaspers' all-time leading three-point shooter was taken 24th overall by Erie BayHawks in NBA D-League Draft. (Photo by Vincent Simone/NYC Buckets)

Shane Richards fought long odds for four years on the road to a professional career.

Today, he has finally defeated them.

Manhattan College's most prolific three-point shooter and eighth all-time leading scorer will begin his journey at the next level with the Erie BayHawks, the developmental affiliate of the Orlando Magic, who selected him with the No. 24 overall pick in Sunday's NBA D-League Draft.

"Shane is going to be a great addition to a team because of his terrific basketball IQ, relentless work ethic and high character; combined with the fact that he is an elite-level shooter, will make for a terrific professional basketball player," Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello said shortly after Richards' selection was announced.

Richards, who concluded his career in a Jasper uniform with two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships to supplement 1,472 career points and a school record 312 three-point field goals during his time in Riverdale, becomes the sixth player coached by Masiello to play professionally, joining former teammates Michael Alvarado, George Beamon, Rhamel Brown, Emmy Andujar and Ashton Pankey. In his final season at Manhattan, he averaged a team-best 17.2 points per game en route to being recognized with first team all-MAAC honors.

"Anytime you have a guy with his size, his attitude and his ability to shoot the basketball, you know something really good is going to happen," Masiello remarked. "I think his game has evolved in other areas as well. It was a great four years for him, a great four years for us. We're so proud of him, we're so happy for him. He deserves all the credit for putting in the work, putting in the time to make himself a better player and a better person, and he's benefiting from that now."

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