Richie Saunders Named First Team All-Big 12, Most Improved Player
Saunders completed the 20-game Big 12 season ranking fourth in scoring with 17.9 points per game, first in 3-point shooting at 45.1%, and fifth in field goal percentage at 52.4%.
Last year, Saunders was seen as a reliable role player off the bench. Under first-year head coach Kevin Young, Saunders emerged as one of the Big 12’s premier players this season.
Saunders recorded 10 games where he scored over 20 points. Impressively, eight of those 20+ point games came against Big 12 Conference opponents.
“I just want to congratulate Richie Saunders on being named First Team All-Big 12 and Most Improved Player, as well as Egor (Demin) for Honorable Mention and first-team freshmen in the Big 12,” said BYU head coach Kevin Young. “I believe other players were deserving too, but I’m happy for these guys.”
The 6-foot-5 junior from Riverton, Utah, made a strong case for Big 12 Player of the Year, although the honor went to Texas Tech’s JT Toppin.
Toppin, a transfer from the University of New Mexico, finished the season in the top three of the Big 12 in scoring, rebounds, and field goal percentage.
