Jereme Richmond, the first McDonald's All-American to sign with the Fighting Illini since Dee Brown in 2002, did not have a storybook college basketball career. He's now one-and-done, but it's not the kind of typical one-and-done you may be used to.
Given all that's happened to Richmond in Champaign it may surprise you to learn that his relationship with Illinois coach Bruce Weber is actually warm and fuzzy.
Bruce Weber visited Richmond at the NBA combine, and the two smiled at each other. Then they shared a big hug.
"He takes his job very seriously, but he takes being a great person even more seriously," Richmond said.
"Coach Weber and I are going to be friends for a long time."
But what about Illini nation at large?
Richmond got into fisticuffs with a teammate at the Big Ten Tournament, left the team during a midseason stretch (and missed the crucial road contest at the Wisconsin Badgers) and was suspended for the Illini NCAA Tournament games.
With that baggage in tow, don't expect many Illini fans to exclaim "my guy" (or similar phrases of vicarious joy) when Richmond hears his name called on NBA Draft night. Quite a few will make those remarks for Demetri McCamey, but not probably
So does he have any regrets about his time at Illinois?
"I don't have any regrets per say, I just wish that the relationship between the fans and myself could have been a little bit more supportive," Richmond said. "But hopefully down the line I'll have the chance to get back to Champaign and mend some fences."
On combine day one he met with the L.A. Clippers, (including former Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro and he's had 5 interviews: Cavaliers, Celtics, Hawks, and Bobcats. On combine day two he had four more meetings scheduled. He also has workouts scheduled with the Timberwolves, Heat, Spurs, Trail Blazers and Nets. Richmond hired an agent named Aaron Goodwin.
So where could he end up being picked?
"I don't really know where teams are going to shake out and how things are going to fall," Richmond said. "Sometimes teams pick up based on what they need. I bring a lot of versatility. The league needs some versatile guys."
And when teams ask Richmond about his potential baggage? About the potential off-the-court issues?
"The only thing you can do is be honest," Richmond said. "Nine times out of 10 they already know the answer anyway. They want to see if you're going to be straight forward and if you're going to own up to your mistakes and things like that."
Richmond is obviously very young, leaving school after just one year. So he will have some parental supervision once he arrives in "the league."
"My parents will be with me on the road, they won't probably live in the same house, but they'll be close to make sure I'm staying focused," he said.
"Because when you get money it's easy to get complacent, but my parents are going to be there to support me along the way."
Very true. "Mo Money, Mo Problems" was such a popular hit song because of its universal message. And Richmond doesn't think he made the wrong choice, even though almost every draft expert thought he'd stay in school another year- at least.
"A lot of people questioned my decision to make the leap but I feel I've grown a lot as a player and as a person, being around a professional atmosphere, I'm going to have a chance to bring those skills that I've picked up along the way."
And he's very confident about his prospects on June 23rd. But he also knows he has some work to do.
"I think my game is going to translate very well, getting out on the break, finishing in transition. Guarding ones, twos threes. I still have a lot of things to clean up about my game as far as shooting and ball handling."
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net. He's also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
You can follow him on Twitter @thesportsbank and Facebook
24 Jun, 2011--
Source: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-sports-guru/2011/06/jereme-richmond-at-peace-with-illini-experience-at-nba-draft-combine.html
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