Down in South Carolina, Blythwood high school is a program continuing to produce talent that can be recognized at the next level.  2022 Julian Phillips steals the headlines and deservingly so, being a double-double machine and a prospect with a huge upside.

However, with Phenom Hoops on deck recently, another 2022 prospect also may be a talent to keep an eye on.  2022 6'3 Emanuel Richards has been yet another young talent showing that he can produce.

Richards gave Phenom Hoops a taste of his capabilities at the South Carolina Top 80, where he averaged 17.5 points and competing against the best.' Against Ridge View recently, Richards continued to show that it is an absolute force on the court, despite being a 6'3 prospect.

The sophomore plays with a tremendous motor and energy on the floor, and despite being 6'3, he plays much bigger than listed.  Richards has no issue mixing it up down low and battling around the rim, attacking and being an ultimate grinder for his team.

Richards believes he is an all-around player and doesn't take much into account when one talks about his size' he just gets the job done and is determined to score no matter where he is on the floor.

'To describe myself, I'm simply a basketball player,' he said.  'I can really do whatever the team needs me to do.  I can handle the ball well, I can shoot, and I feel as if I can get to the basket whenever I want or need to.

Down low, I really don't think about size, I think my strength and my moves help me get open attempts on bigger opponents.  I'm just determined to score the ball.  And on the defensive side of things, I'm quicker than most post players, so I just use that to my advantage.'

His ability to bull through contact and finish with his strength was immediately noticeable, as he has continued to be a scoring threat for Blythewood each and every night.' And even though his recruitment has started yet, he should be one to keep track of this season and down the road in the state of South Carolina.

What was said at South Carolina Top 80:

“Moving onto a player that stood out as the main glue-guy of this team throughout camp, Emmanuel Richards. He's a smart, team-first wing prospect with a well-rounded skillset and the ability to do a strong amount of everything on the court. Richards has a high motor and looks to create havoc however possible on either end of the floor. He actively mixes it up on offense and scores the ball very efficiently from all three levels. Richards is a useful defender that provides excellent energy from start to finish. Next in his development process is working on his ability to contain the point of attack, as it would make him a more complete player. Coach Pope on Richards: 'Emmanuel is a glue-guy. He plays very hard and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He's a little raw but, with some sharpening of his offensive skillset, can become a high-production guy on both ends of the floor.' Richards simply knows how to make his presence felt and will be a prospect to watch at Blythewood going forward, as he has plenty of upside remaining.”