Rebounding finds place in Richardson's heart

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

UC Santa Barbara sophomore Brandy Richardson, a Kalaheo High grad, led the Big West in rebounding. She is averaging 9.5 a game. Mike Pittman • North Carolina State University

Richardson, the former three-time Hawai'i girls basketball Player of the Year for Kalaheo High, is the regular-season rebounding champion of the Big West Conference for 17th-ranked UC Santa Barbara.

She is averaging 9.5 boards per game in her sophomore season, leading Big West champion UCSB in minutes played (29.9 per game), and on Monday she received honorable mention on the all-conference team.

"It doesn't matter if you're the tallest person on the court," says Richardson, who at 6 feet is rarely the tallest. "It has more to do with heart than anything else, and it is a battle to not let yourself get boxed out."

UCSB coach Mark French says Richardson's "athleticism, strength and heart for getting after the ball make her very difficult to deal with.

"She has proven she is one of the better rebounders in the country by playing consistently well against the Purdues, the LSUs and the Illinois of the world, competing against the best forwards in the country."

Richardson has grabbed double-digit rebounds 15 times in 27 games, leading or sharing the team's rebounding efforts 19 times in the past 24 games.

"She really understands the game," French says. "She passes, cuts, picks and makes everybody else look good. Our shooters love Brandy."

But Richardson's own scoring contribution is modest — 6.7 points per game.

"The thing that will tell the tale between Brandy being a really good college player and an exceptional college player will be her shooting," French predicts.

"When she gets to the point when she can drain the 15- to 18-foot jump shot consistently, she will be a nightmare to guard."

Richardson has made just 37 percent of her field-goal attempts this season and is just .074 (2 of 27) on 3-point attempts.

French added: "She needs another good spring and summer of shooting with nobody watching and with no consequences on the scoreboard."

Richardson says she'll get help improving her shooting this summer from her cousin, Nani Cockett, and her neighbor in 'Aiea, Monica Tokoro.

"Last summer Nani stayed with me at UH and passed and rebounded and chased my balls all over the gym," Richardson says.

"Monica and I played 1-on-1 on the outdoor court at 'Aiea District Park. We beat each other up from lights on until lights out. I'm excited to go home and see how much better she got."

(Tokoro was second in the nation in scoring this season in NCAA Division II for Cal State-Los Angeles.)

Santa Barbara (23-4) opens defense of its Big West Tournament championship tonight. The Gauchos have won 18 straight Big West Tournament games and earned six straight automatic NCAA tournament bids.