Jase Richardson, a promising young basketball talent, attributes much of his success to the unwavering support and coaching of his mother, Jackie Paul-Richardson. As he prepares for his career in the NBA, having been drafted this year, he reflects on the lessons learned both on and off the court from his mother, who has been a significant influence throughout his journey.
Early on, Jase showed a tremendous aptitude for the game. At only three years old, he started coming to a recreational program. Throughout the years, he intently pursued that same passion by juggling his love for basketball and soccer. In the end, he chose to develop his basketball talents, under close watch by his mother. Having played at Michigan junior colleges herself, former player Jackie Paul-Richardson has had her own deep roots to the sport. Her experience and scholarly knowledge have given Jase a truly unmatched foundation.
From a young age, Jase disciplined himself with hard training workouts to sharpen his craft. Every day he’d challenge himself with a drill such as the ‘shell drill’ that called for full-court movement. He recounted, “We did ‘shell drill’ every day, up and down, full court, 90 feet every day.” His commitment to practice, no doubt, played a role in his historic performance statistics. He averaged two assists and three rebounds per game as a member of the Spartans.
For Coach Jackie Paul-Richardson, her most impactful teaching came from building mental fortitude and character—not just athletic ability. She stated, “I didn’t care about the sports because I knew, athletically, they’d be fine and they’d figure that part out. So, for us, it was just the mental toughness, coping skills, being a good teammate, just being a good human.” This philosophy not only made Jase a better player, but it continued to cultivate his maturity as a young man.
During Jase’s high school years, Jackie’s dedication to coaching was evident when she assisted the varsity women’s team by stepping in as an extra player at an open gym run on campus. Her involvement demonstrated her dedication to her children’s development and the basketball community at large. In 2021, when Jase graduated from the under-16 level, she decided to no longer coach. This adjustment represented a major turning point in their dynamic as coach and pupil.
In the cutthroat world of D1 college basketball, Jase experienced the pressure cooker environment that would harden his spirit. In last season’s tournament Round of 32 against New Mexico, it was an uphill climb. He finished with only six points on 1-10 shooting. When asked about his performance after the game, he told his mom straight up that he f—- sucked. Even still, undeterred by these challenges, he was all business when it came to getting better and learning from every run.
His standout performance in the NBA summer league proved just how talented Jase really is. He averaged an efficient 16.5 points, 1.5 boards and 2.5 dimes in just 23.4 minutes per game while shooting a scorching 50% from three. He’s shown his maturity as a player with his ability to limit turnovers, committing just 30 of them through 36 games.
Jackie’s impact went a lot further than just teaching the technical skills. She was imparting lessons about life that Jase continues to live by. During his speech, he thanked her for always being in his corner during his athletic career. “It was special to have somebody in your household other than your dad, who’s played the game and knows the game well,” he said. So to have her in my corner was really, really helpful. I think over a third of my basketball IQ is from her. She’s been coaching me for so many years.
As Jase looks ahead at the beginning of his possible professional career, he knows that adversity is just a part of the game. Jackie highlights this sentiment in her coaching philosophy: “Nobody wants to see what you look like or how you respond when everything’s going well.” She says that scouts look for how a player responds to adversity.
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