Sheffield's Tony Richards (center) signs his Letter of Intent to play basketball at Saint Vincent College, surrounded by his family.

Hard Work Pays Off for Sheffield’s Richards, Who Will Continue Academic, Basketball Career at Saint Vincent College

May 7, 2022

SHEFFIELD, Pa. – For the better part of five years, current Sheffield senior Tony Richards has grinded day in, day out to get to become a better basketball player.

On Friday, all that hard work paid off, as he officially became a member of the Saint Vincent College men’s basketball program, where he will begin school in the fall.

It hasn’t always been an easy road, but Richards is grateful for all the ups and downs that have led him to this poiny.

“It’s been such a journey,” Richards said. “About freshman year, I decided I wanted to play in college. I was sitting with my dad actually watching March Madness and we kind of talked about it. I asked him if he thought I could do something like that and he said you have to bust your tail.”

Watch Richards’ full interview:

And he’s done that ever since.

Richards stepped onto the court as a starter his freshman year for the Wolverines and never looked back, continuing to improve his game year after year. Playing for coach Mike Knapp and most recently under coach Jordan Copley, Richards was instrumental in helping improve the Sheffield program, as the Wolverines have been a District 9 playoff squad each of the last two years.

His father, Tony, emphasized hard work early on.

“I’m just proud of him,” the elder Richards said. “I told him years ago he wasn’t as athletic as the kids that he was playing against so he’d have to work really hard. And he did. He put the time in.”

Now, he’ll head to Saint Vincent in Latrobe and its beautiful campus to become a Bearcat under head coach D.P. Harris. And he credits his father as a major factor in helping him get there.

“It’s been him and I,” the younger Richards said. “He’s been my backbone, my rock. This wouldn’t be possible without him.”

For all his success on the basketball court, his parents are most proud of him for his work in the classroom.

Richards will be majoring in Elementary Education.

“I think the thing I’m most proud of is the academic scholarship that he’s getting from the school,” his dad said. “He’s been a pretty easy kid to raise. He’s a hard worker. I’m just really proud of him.”

         

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