Manual’s Dietrich Richardson ends summer as hot recruiting target

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Summer is over for Dietrich Richardson.

School starts Wednesday at Manual High School where Richardson will begin his senior year. He says the summer may be over but the work continues.

“I’ve been working on my three-point shooting and upper body strength. That’s what I was working on most of this summer,” Richardson said. “I feel bigger, stronger, faster. Got in the weight room with coach Marvin (Jordan). He makes sure I get in there. That’s big for me.”

This summer Richardson has been heating up basketball courts with his high school and AAU teams. He earned recent scholarship offers from Xavier, Wyoming and Virginia Tech.

Those schools join Illinois and Bradley who already have extending him offers. DePaul, Indiana State, Southern Illinois and St. Louis are also among the schools that want Richardson in their programs.

The 6-6, 175-pound slashing guard has played in front of a lot of college coaches in the past year.

“You have to put on (a good performance) in front of theses college coaches. You can’t come out and play scared. That’s a big piece,” said Richardson. “Always know there’s an end goal.”

Richardson says he’d like to narrow his finalists down and make a college choice this fall.

“I’d like to commit in the next two or three months. Before the season starts,” he said.

His coach continues to see growth in Richardson.

“It’s big to keep him confident and know what’s at stake and know you big he can be for himself and others. His game is progressing each day,” said Manual head coach Marvin Jordan. “He’s still learning to be a good leader. He’ s still progressing in all those categories.”

While Richardson gets attention from college coaches, he hopes he’s getting the attention of his Manual teammates. Leading them is another thing Richardson says he’s been working on this summer.

“I feel like, if I’m leading my team, I feel like I’m doing a good job,” said Richardson. “Making sure everyone is getting better every day.”

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