BYU's Richie Saunders to Enter the Transfer Portal

The hits keep on coming for the BYU basketball program. On Sunday, BYU wing Richie Saunders announced his plans to enter the transfer portal. Saunders, who has two years of eligibility remaining, averaged 9.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, and 1.1 assists per game.

Saunders released the following statement on social media:

"Due to the uncertainty of the coaching situation, I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal. My heart hurts because of this unanticipated change with the coaching staff. With that being said, I would like to be proactive about exploring what is best for my wife and I as we move forward. I love BYU and am forever grateful for the experiences I have had. I can't thank the coahes, staff, and fans enough for these experiences. Thank you Cougar nation, for everything."

Saunders is the third BYU player to enter the transfer portal since Mark Pope left BYU to be the head coach at Kentucky. He joins Dallin Hall and Aly Khalifa in the transfer portal. Saunders was part of a young core at BYU that was looking to take another step forward next season.

Saunders had become a fan favorite over his last year in Provo. His impact on the basketball court extended well beyond the box score. Saunders made hustle plays his mission, and he had a non-flashy but effective style that fans grew to love. He had the potential to become a starter for BYU next season.

Whoever is hired to replace Mark Pope will have his hands full. There is a lot of recruiting to be done, including the retention of the roster.