2025 BU commit- Dietrich Richardson

[Bradley3342]

Great get! Congrats to Coach Wardle and the coaching staff. The future definitely looks bright!

[Da Coach]

... I read the first time in 35 years we were able to get a local manual recruit!!!! ...

Yes, actually 34 years... The last Manual grads to play at Bradley were Curtis Stuckey & Tom Wilson, who both played on the 1990-91 Bradley team.
But neither of them were recruited to come to Bradley directly from Manual. Stuckey played 2 seasons for Drake then transferred and played his last 2 seasons at Bradley (stats-->1989-1991).
Tom Wilson attended a junior college before signing with Bradley and playing just one season (1990-1991).
The last player that was recruited and signed with Bradley directly out of Manual HS was Bobby Humbles, 50 years ago.
Humbles played 4 seasons for Joe Stowell (Humbles' stats-->1974-1978). He was a terrific player and a fan favorite.

Prior to Humbles, here are the Manual players who played for Bradley's varsity team (according to the Bradley historical records)-:
Mike Davis played for Bradley from 1973-1976 - https://sports-reference.com/cbb/players/mike-davis-17.html……
Wayne McClain 1974-1975- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...mcclain-2.html
Dave Klobucher 1971-1974- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...obucher-1.html
Al Smith 1966-1968 and 1970-1971 (career interrupted by 2 years in military)- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...l-smith-4.html
Walt Slater 1964-1967- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...-slater-1.html
Eddie Jackson 1963-1966- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...jackson-3.html
Clarence Christie 1947-1950- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...hristie-1.html
Austin Jones 1945-1946
Larry Leonard 1939-1943
Bill Chinuge 1939-1942
E.A. Handley 1939-1940
Meyer Jacobs 1936-1939
Don Miller 1934-1937

Note: there were likely other early Bradley team members who were from Manual, but the Bradley records do not always list the high schools attended by many of the pre-WWII players.
Also, freshman and junior varsity players in the early years were often listed on varsity rosters and dressed for games, but if they didn't compile any stats, they are not included in the Bradley records.

A little Bradley trivia-- the Bradley record for the highest career scoring average is not Hersey Hawkins or Chet Walker, as many might think.
Hersey played four seasons for Bradley (1984-1988 ) and averaged 24.1 ppg for his career. Chet Walker played 3 seasons (1959-1962) and averaged 24.4 ppg.
The #1 career scoring average was by Curtis Stuckey (1989-1991). Stuckey averaged 24.5 ppg over his 2 seasons at Bradley, playing for Stan Albeck's high scoring offense in the role that Hersey Hawkins had played for the 2 years prior to Stuckey.
Top 10 Bradley career scoring averages-

[PhiAlphaBoy]

I was too young to see him play, but some say Al Smith may have been the best athlete to ever come out of Peoria.

[Da Coach]

I was too young to see him play, but some say Al Smith may have been the best athlete to ever come out of Peoria.

He might have been the best all-around athlete. After a nice career at Bradley, he was drafted by MLB Chicago White Sox as well as by the NBA Chicago Bulls and the ABA Denver Nuggets. He signed and played 3 seasons for the Nuggets, and 5 seasons overall in the ABA. He lead the league in assists one season.
Bradley career stats- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...l-smith-4.html
ABA stats- https://www.basketball-reference.com...smithal01.html

Here is more about him in a thread from December, 2022, when he tragically died by suicide. - https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/sp...-75#post505623

[bradleyfan124]

He might have been the best all-around athlete. After a nice career at Bradley, he was drafted by MLB Chicago White Sox as well as by the NBA Chicago Bulls and the ABA Denver Nuggets. He signed and played 3 seasons for the Nuggets, and 5 seasons overall in the ABA. He lead the league in assists one season.
Bradley career stats- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...l-smith-4.html
ABA stats- https://www.basketball-reference.com...smithal01.html

Here is more about him in a thread from December, 2022, when he tragically died by suicide. - https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/sp...-75#post505623

Did he play baseball at Bradley?

[basketball nut]

A great start for the next recruiting class with the 3 commitments so far

[Da Coach]

Did he play baseball at Bradley?

Yes, he played a couple seasons for the Bradley baseball team. In 1966-67, when he was a sophomore, he was listed on the roster as a pitcher. As a junior in 1967-68, he is listed on the roster as a 1st baseman.
He spent the 1968-69 and 1969-70 years in the army, but returned to play his final season of basketball eligiblity in 1970-71, but did not play baseball that year.
>> 1966-67 roster - https://bradleybraves.com/sports/bas...roster/1966-67
>> 1967-68 roster - https://bradleybraves.com/sports/bas...roster/1967-68

There are no stats available online for those years.

[Tommy]

Crazy to think that our recruiting seems to be improving since the wide open portal. Question will be, can we keep them!

[bradleyfan124]

Yes, he played a couple seasons for the Bradley baseball team. In 1966-67, when he was a sophomore, he was listed on the roster as a pitcher. As a junior in 1967-68, he is listed on the roster as a 1st baseman.
He spent the 1968-69 and 1969-70 years in the army, but returned to play his final season of basketball eligiblity in 1970-71, but did not play baseball that year.
>> 1966-67 roster - https://bradleybraves.com/sports/bas...roster/1966-67
>> 1967-68 roster - https://bradleybraves.com/sports/bas...roster/1967-68

There are no stats available online for those years.

Thanks Da Coach

[bradleyfan124]

Crazy to think that our recruiting seems to be improving since the wide open portal. Question will be, can we keep them!

I have thought with the transfer portal taking up spots on alot of College teams that the high school players might be left out. Fewer spots to go to at schools leaving the door open for a team like Bradley to swoop in and land some of those players

[yoda]

Re: Al Smith
in 1965, when Al Smith was a senior at Peoria Manual, they won the IHSA Baseball State Championship.
Read about Al Smith’s heroics here -

https://www.gpshof.com/baseball-1965-manual-baseball

[egib52]

I would not go that far because Burch will have a lot to say about that plus Johnson will be in the mix. These 3 freshman are really good but they have a lot of work to do before i would stipulate they will be starters in 2025 2026. This is a great start to the recruiting for next season yet we still need forwards and another center. I predict we go with more experience like JUCOS or transfers to fill those positions.
I am very happy that these 3 players chose Bradley.

I would guess at least 2 come off of the bench. There is a big leap from HS to D1. Now by the end of the season, it might be a different story.

[Tommy]

I have thought with the transfer portal taking up spots on alot of College teams that the high school players might be left out. Fewer spots to go to at schools leaving the door open for a team like Bradley to swoop in and land some of those players

Think you’re on to something!

[Da Coach]

Peoria Manual played their first game of the season tonight against Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin HS.
Final score- Manual 80 SHG 61 - https://twitter.com/AdamDuvall/statu...64682812145901

Dietrich Richardson had 21 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block

[Da Coach]

A couple Dietrich Richardson highlights thanks to Jim Mattson - https://twitter.com/hoijim/status/1861996702099492947