Tom Izzo at the helm with a Richardson taking the country by storm as the Spartans head to the Elite 8. Sounds familiar? If it doesn’t, don’t beat yourself up. It’s been 25 years after all. He was never supposed to be here, in fact, he had never even lived in Michigan prior to this season. His father, NBA Legend Jason Richardson, never asked him to take on the burden of his legacy. Claiming it still, he arrived. While it took him some time to get adjusted, he moved into the starting lineup in early February and has led the team in scoring ever since averaging 16.9 PPG. Jase’s Basketball IQ, praised by pundits across the country has been on full display this tournament as he has been instrumental in taking this team to the Elite 8.

While the noise around his rising draft stock increases, Jase remains unfazed with only one goal in mind “He’s not even thinking about (the NBA),” Jason said. “He’s (just) thinking about March Madness and trying to win games.” The 6’3″ guard is now projected to be an early/mid first-round pick and while Jason might be tempted to take the credit, he humbly gives it all to Jase’s mother, Jackie Paul Richardson.

Where was Jase Richardson born? What’s the Michigan State star’s nationality?

Jase was born on 16th October, 2005 in Berkeley, California as his father played for the Golden State Warriors at the time. Son of a NBA player, he had to move around a lot and spent majority of his formative years in Colorado.  At the start of his junior year, he shifted to Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada and subsequently to Miami when senior year came around. He graduated from Columbus High School in Miami,  Florida and was among the top-40 players in the country. A four-star recruit, He averaged 16.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists for PG Elite on the Nike EYBL circuit during the summer of 2023.

Born to an American couple, Jase is also an American national and would certainly aspire to don the stars and stripes uniform one day. While his dad never played for Team USA, he was a part of the USA Basketball Select Team in 2000 which played the 2000 Dream Team before they participated in the Sydney Olympics. There he showed off years of work that had happened behind the scenes. More than a dunker, he handled the ball, made jump shots and defended.

What is Jase Richardson’s hometown?

Jase hails from Denver, Colorado which is also where his mother’s alma matter is located. Jackie Paul Richardson is the mother and coach of Jase. “I think the toughest coach he ever had in his life was his mom,” Jason said. “She’s fiery, she’s demanding. It’s almost a similarity with Coach (Izzo). … That doesn’t bother (Jase). He knows that that just helps him to become a better basketball player.”

His basketball pedigree extends beyond his parents—his paternal grandfather, Charles Richardson, was a standout high school player in Saginaw, Michigan, in the 1960s, planting the seeds for the family’s athletic lineage, while his younger sister, Jannah, is a high school sophomore excelling in track and field in Miami.

While it won’t be outrageous to believe he could be biased. Jase’s skills speak for the work his mother has put into his development as an athlete. “It was never easy for him,” Jackie said “When I coached, you didn’t know which one was my kid.” The freshman has shot 41% from deep this season, even getting his father to admit Jase has the better jumper. Thanks to Jackie, there are multiple facets to Jase’s game that are impressive but the one that makes him stand apart is his basketball IQ. “[Mateen] Cleaves. Draymond Green. Cassius Winston. Guys who “figured things out on a different level.” is how coach Izzo describes it, a basketball mind that has the Michigan staff in awe.

 What is Jase Richardson’s ethnicity?

Jase is of the Afro-American ethnicity. Though he’s not spoken much of it publicly.

His dad, however, once made a comment against the league dress code rules and said they targeted black players of the league. “Just because you dress a certain way doesn’t mean you’re that way. Hey, a guy could come in with baggy jeans, a ‘do rag(durag) and have a Ph.D. and a person who comes in with a suit could be a three-time felon.” said Jason, who as a Warrior at the time. The memo from NBA said that the players must dress in “business casual” attire, the league banned items such as sleeveless shirts, shorts, sunglasses while indoors, and headphones during team or league business. The statement displayed Jason is a proud Black man who is not afraid to step up for his community.

Richardson has always liked to express himself with his funky attire. “They don’t want your chains to be out, all gaudy and shiny. But that’s the point of them,” he said. “I love wearing my jewelry. But I love my job. I love playing basketball more than I love getting fined and getting suspended.”

When your old man’s an NBA superstar, the pressure will never fade. Lucky for Jase, he’s built a skillset that will never let you run out of confidence. If someone told you back in January that Jase Richardson will lead the Spartans to the Elite 8, you probably wouldn’t have believed me. But they’re here, and you best believe that they’re ready. The end of a 25-year drought seems in sight, and the protagonist looks awfully familiar.