Jada Richard brings championship pedigree to LSU basketball
LAFAYETTE, La. (BVM) – Lafayette Christian Academy girls basketball star Jada Richard knows a thing or two about winning championships. Over her three seasons with the Knights, Richard has led the team to Division II state titles each campaign. Now, she will look to have similar success with the reigning NCAA national champions.
On April 6, Richard committed to the in-state Louisiana State University women’s basketball team. This was just four days after the Tigers claimed their first national championship in program history.
“I feel good, I feel like I made the right decision,” Richard said. “I had a lot of options of places I thought I could go…but I just felt like LSU showed me something different. The atmosphere, the fans, the coaching staff, the players.
“I love Coach [Kim] Mulkey’s coaching style. I love how she allows her players to be themselves and also her credentials. She won a national championship in two seasons and then winning now I felt put the icing on the cake.”
NATTY CHAMPS WHATS UP?!💛💜 @KimMulkey @Kaylin_Rice @iGREDUS @LSUwbkb pic.twitter.com/NhZpMkguFt
— Jada Richard (@JadaRichard5) April 6, 2023
Richard’s commitment gives LSU the best player in Louisiana in back-to-back classes, as she joins Class of 2023 commit Mikaylah Williams from Parkway High School.
“We talk all the time,” Richard said of Williams. “The day that I committed she was like, ‘Is today the day we become a Tiger family?’ and I was like, ‘I’m making the move.’ So I think that’s big for our state, big for LSU and just big in general.”
The 5-foot-7 guard led the Knights to a 31-3 record while leading the team in scoring by averaging 28.2 points. Though she’s known for putting up big scoring numbers, Richard insists on still being a true point guard.
“I’m a point guard first, but if I have to score I’ll score,” Richard said. “I feel like I can create for myself and my teammates. I’m a great teammate and I definitely push myself as well as the people around me to get better.”
Richard scored 32 points with six rebounds, five assists and five steals during LCA’s 55-46 championship game victory. This earned Richard the state tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award.
“I feel like winning is just a culture me and my teammates have created at LCA so I feel like winning is just what we’re supposed to do,” Richard said. “Me getting MVP shoutout to my teammates. I wouldn’t be able to do anything without them.”
The Select Division II Girls Basketball Most Outstanding Player, Jada Richard! 🏀🏆@LCAKnights pic.twitter.com/XlEAwbwUlI
— LHSAA (@LHSAAsports) March 4, 2023
Richard was also named Prep Girls Hoops first-team all-state and first-team all-Acadiana. She also became the fastest player in Knights’ program history to surpass the 2,000-point plateau.
“It was crazy,” Richard said of the feat. “I’m blessed, blessed from the man above with the skillset to be able to do what I do. I work hard and I feel like everything is just finally starting to come together.”
Congrats to Jada Richard! Fastest LCA player to reach 2000 points. She did It in 3 seasons and we still have playoffs. She finished with 39 points tonight. Lady knights finish regular season at 25-1. Playoffs, here we come. pic.twitter.com/QqXAKwc6Xn
— LCAKnightsSports (@LCAKnights) February 11, 2023
It hasn’t taken long for some of the more prominent members of the Tigers team to welcome Richard either. LSU basketball star Angel Reese shouted out the newest addition with a comment on Richard’s commitment Instagram post.
“Honestly it was surreal,” Richard said. “She’s a big star in the basketball world. It just means a lot. Honestly, I’m blessed. I couldn’t ask for a better situation to be in.”
For now, the rising senior will have one last season with the Knights as she looks to win the coveted four-peat, one of the rarest feats for high school athletes.
“I feel like four years in high school and four state championships that’s everyone’s dream,” Richard said. “Everyone wants to come into high school and win every year. If I can accomplish that, that would be big.”
Once she arrives at LSU, Richard will be surrounded by plenty of talent. Not only will the reigning champions still have Reese, who will be a senior when the guard joins the team in 2024, but they will also have members from the top-ranked recruiting class in 2023.
“I felt like me coming from a winning culture and then them winning I can add to that and I know how to win,” Richard said. “I feel like more championships [are coming], no matter the age, no matter the class. [Mulkey] is bringing in big recruits and bringing in people that can hoop so I feel as long as they stay confident and continue to work more championships are in line.”
With a bright future ahead, Richard is ready to finish up her final season at LCA the same way she started – as a champion. Given her ability to win big games, fans should expect nothing less from her next season or during her future career at LSU.
