Richie Saunders chosen No. 32 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA draft
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
BROOKLYN — Richie Saunders is Memphis-bound
The Memphis Grizzlies have picked Saunders No. 32 overall in the second round of Wednesday’s NBA Draft.
Saunders will join his former BYU teammate AJ Dybantsa in the NBA, with the latter being chosen Tuesday with the draft’s No. 1 pick by the Washington Wizards.
In 25 contests as a senior for the Cougars this past season before suffering a torn ACL, Saunders averaged 18.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting just shy of 38% from 3-point range.
During his junior campaign, the Riverton native scored 16.5 points per game, made 43% of his 3-pointers, earned First Team All-Big 12 honors and led BYU to its first Sweet 16 since 2011.
Saunders appeared in 128 games as a Cougar between 2022-26 — starting 63 — and ranks among the most beloved BYU players in recent program history.
“I mean, it’s been a dream come true,” Saunders said this past March of his BYU career. “Looking back, I know for a very long time I’ll remember winning here, just the joy that brought me to be able to put on this uniform.”
