Tennessee guard Josh Richardson (1) celebrates a basket against Vanderbilt as Tennessee forward Derek Reese (23) look son during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Thursday, March 12, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)KNOXVILLE — The Miami Heat selected former Tennessee guard Josh Richardson with the 40th overall pick in Thursday night’s NBA draft.
Richardson was projected as a second-round pick according to most mock drafts on Thursday. DraftExpress had him going 42nd to Utah. ESPN’s projection also had Richardson going to Utah with the 54th pick.
The 6-foot-6 former All-SEC pick worked out for 16 teams in the weeks leading up to the draft and worked out twice for Memphis, San Antonio and Oklahoma City.
As a senior last season, Richardson averaged 16 points and led Tennessee in assists, steals, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage while locking up a second SEC All-Defensive Team nod.
Richardson becomes the 46th NBA draft pick in the history of Tennessee’s basketball program, though he’s only the 10th selection since the NBA went to a two-round draft format in 1989.