A visit with Kharyssa Richardson: Getting to know Coach Yo’s highly-touted transfer from Auburn
OXFORD, Miss. — The Ole Miss women’s basketball team is quickly adding more pieces to the puzzle as head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin recently welcomed intraconference transfer Kharyssa Richardson from Auburn.
A 6-foot-2-inch versatile forward, Richardson was a freshman starter in 27 of 28 games this season for the Tigers. She averaged 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds while tallying 1.8 combined steals and blocks.
In her lone season in the SEC, she notched a career high of 16 points in a non-conference game against Tulane. She also recorded a high of 16 rebounds in a league game against Florida.
The Douglasville, Ga native announced her commitment via social media last week. She joins Kennedy Todd-Williams and Florida’s KK Deans in this year’s class of transfers for the Rebels.
THE SIP IS THE MOVEEE❤️ #NoCeilings pic.twitter.com/uY9v4Z9n8C
— Kharyssa Richardson (@Kharyssa33) April 6, 2023
The Rebel Walk was fortunate to have a conversation with Kharyssa recently, and we had the opportunity to talk about who she is, what basketball means to her, and what made Ole Miss feel like home. After getting to meet Kharyssa and learn more about her goals and aspirations, it was easy to see why she and Ole Miss are such a good fit.
Meeting Kharyssa Richardson
It was February 19th.
In front of 6,500+ fans in Oxford, the Ole Miss women’s basketball team was trying to end South Carolina’s win streak that spanned over 30 games. In Knoxville, the Auburn’s women’s basketball team had just finished up a hard-fought matchup against the Volunteers.
Kharyssa Richardson and members of the Tigers women’s basketball team are in Walmart tuning into their phones to see the outcome.
“We we’re on edge. We we’re like oh, Ole Miss can actually win this.. It was pretty good [to see].“
Kharyssa Richardson on watching Ole Miss play South Carolina
The contest had given a second serving of juice to the Ole Miss faithful in what was a little a friendly foreshadowing of how dangerous Ole Miss could be, something they proved later in the season during tournament time with a win over No. 1 seed Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Kharyssa remembered Ole Miss from earlier in the year. The Rebels were the first SEC opponent for Richardson and Auburn.
“Once we played them, seeing them running up the court… I could tell it was a definitely different league. I was like, ‘wow.’“
Richardson on playing Ole Miss
Richardson grew up playing basketball with her three older brothers. Initially, she started out in gymnastics but became interested in basketball in the 7th grade. In school, there was an Olympics-style event for students to compete in various areas. Richardson started playing in a 3-v-3 style basketball game, and that is where she really found an interest in the sport. It didn’t take long for her to find her way on the court, and soon she began playing some bigger competition.
“I was playing AAU for one team… Then I stopped playing with them, and I played with Coach Dorian [Williams] at Hoop Dreams, my eighth grade summer. That’s when it all really started to happen and come together.“
Kharyssa Richardson
While in 8th grade, Richardson was practicing with the New Manchester High School girls team; however, she was not allowed to compete in any games while still in middle school. But once she got to ninth grade, Kharyssa immediately stepped into being a varsity-level player at her school.
As a sophomore she took over as a full-time starter. Then, things really took off for Richardson as a junior where she earned All-State honors in Georgia. In her senior season, Richardson averaged 18.3 PTS, 8.9 REB, 3.8 STKs (Steal + Blocks), and she would lead her school to the Georgia Elite Eight.
After one year at Auburn, Richardson went to the portal in search of something a little different. Quickly, she formed a relationship with Coach Yo and Ole Miss. While Richardson may not be from Mississippi, there is a connection as she helped a cousin move to Ole Miss and her parents are both from the state.
When it comes down to it, Richardson has a pro mindset. She knows what her goals are and she wanted to be in a situation that matched that. Ole Miss making the Sweet Sixteen really stuck out to her, as Richardson has goals of making the final four and competing deep in the SEC tournament.
It didn’t take long before Richardson made her way to Oxford and soon experienced interactions that reiterated how Ole Miss is a match for her. She spoke to the staff and some of the Rebel players about where they finished and what the plan was going forward for both the program and Kharyssa as an individual. She also spoke with Snudda Collins about the pro mindset present at Ole Miss.
“When I got on campus the energy was different there, and the coaching staff they were handling everything like a business. They could talk but they could back it up, and they could show you how you’re going to play… That’s what I really liked about Ole Miss, they really treated things like a business… For me to get to the league, I really feel like this is the best place to be.“
Kharyssa Richardson on why she chose Ole Miss
Kharyssa Richardson, the player
Richardson tells us she has modeled her game after a mix of both Candace Parker and Kevin Durant. She believes Ole Miss can help her expand her shooting range to the perimeter. She has confidence in her ability to play with her back to the basket as well as being able to face-up and attack.
“I’m very versatile, I can shoot, rebound, dribble. So I can do a little bit of everything. Any position that Coach Yo would want me to play I can.”
Kharyssa Richardson
Richardson can also help out in the transition game. Ole Miss’ offense was at its best when it got out and ran — and Richardson shot 60.6% in transition opportunities. Those attempts accounted for 17.3% of her offensive opportunities last season. She also added a strong offensive presence in the post last year and making plays off of action.
The pass from @kayla_hooping… the finish from @Kharyssa33!#WarEagle | #LGTW | #WNIT pic.twitter.com/cy8VKgG2st
— Auburn Women's Basketball (@AuburnWBB) March 18, 2023
Defensively, Richardson will add a lot of value as another post defender who can step out when needed. Her 3.8 Blk% was good for 9th in the SEC and she averaged almost 2.0BLKs per game in high school. Richardson has the potential to be a highly effective player for Ole Miss this season and will help add another element to next year’s team.
Her ability to play with versatility will be helpful to Ole Miss next season. The “We Defend” identity Ole Miss has encapsulated is now glorified even more with the idea of a rotating lineup that has Kennedy Todd-Williams, Ayanna Thompson, Madison Scott, Snudda Collins and Kharyssa Richardson. Presenting three players who can all guard the wing positions while all also able to guard on the perimeter would present a tough challenge for opponents.
Stay tuned to The Rebel Walk for more on the damage Coach Yo continues to do in the transfer portal!
TJ Oxley
TJ Oxley is the Vice President of Operations and the Director of Community Relations for The Rebel Walk. He is also the Director of Basketball Content and Senior Basketball Writer. He has over five years of experience providing in-depth analysis of college basketball through multiple platforms. A former MBA graduate of Ole Miss, TJ started with The Rebel Walk in 2019.
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