Breaking News: BYU Forward Richie Saunders Stuns College Basketball World by Announcing His Return for the 2025 Season, Vowing to Finish Unfinished Business, Lead BYU Back to National Championship Contention, and Cement His Legacy Among the Greatest Guards in Program History
In a move that has sent shockwaves throughout the college basketball landscape, BYU star Richie Saunders announced today that he will be returning for the 2025 season. The 6-foot-5 forward, whose breakout junior campaign vaulted him into national prominence and on the radar of professional scouts, made it clear that unfinished business and a burning desire to elevate BYU basketball back to national championship contention are the driving forces behind his decision.
“I’m coming back,” Saunders declared in an emotional press conference in Provo. “This program, this university, and these fans mean everything to me. I’m not done yet. We have goals that haven’t been met, and I want to be the one who helps take BYU back to where we belong — among the nation’s elite.”
After averaging 16.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game last season, Saunders emerged as a leader on and off the court. His combination of tenacity, versatile defense, and sharpshooting ability made him one of the cornerstones of BYU’s deep NCAA tournament run, which ultimately ended in a heartbreaking Elite Eight loss. Many analysts projected Saunders as a late first-round or early second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, making his decision to forego professional opportunities all the more stunning.
Yet for Saunders, legacy and loyalty seem to outweigh immediate professional aspirations.
“I want to leave no doubt,” Saunders said. “I want to leave this program in a place where future generations of Cougars know what it means to chase greatness. I’ve dreamed about cutting down nets with BYU my whole life — and that dream’s still alive.”
Head coach Kevin Young, who has helped usher in a new era of success and modernized play in Provo, lauded Saunders’ return as monumental not only for BYU’s prospects but also for the program’s culture.
“Richie represents everything we want this program to be about — hard work, resilience, leadership, and love for the game,” Young said. “Having him back puts us in an incredible position to make another deep run. His commitment inspires the entire locker room.”
Saunders’ return is expected to make BYU an immediate contender in the newly restructured Big 12, one of the toughest conferences in college basketball. With a returning core of seasoned veterans, a top-25 recruiting class, and the leadership of Saunders, BYU will have its sights set squarely on a Final Four — and perhaps more.
Already, national analysts are recalibrating their preseason projections. ESPN’s Jay Bilas called Saunders’ return “program-changing,” while CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein tweeted, “BYU gets a huge boost. Richie Saunders coming back makes the Cougars a top-15 team overnight.”
If Saunders’ vow to finish what he started is any indication, the Cougars and their passionate fan base are in for a historic ride. Should he lead BYU to its first Final Four since 1981 — or better yet, its first national championship — Saunders’ name would be etched permanently alongside the program’s all-time greats.
In his own words: “I’m not chasing stats. I’m chasing banners.”