Richie Saunders is a standout junior forward for the BYU Cougars men’s basketball team. Born on September 19, 2001, in Riverton, Utah, he stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds.
Saunders began his collegiate career with BYU in the 2022–2023 season, appearing in 34 games with two starts. He averaged 5.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. In the following season, 2023–2024, he played in 34 games with one start, improving his performance to an average of 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. His consistent growth led him to enter the 2024–2025 season as a full-time starter.
The 2024–2025 season has been particularly remarkable for Saunders. He earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors and was named the Big 12 Most Improved Player. Notably, on December 31, 2024, he scored a career-high 30 points in a victory over Arizona State.
He continued his impressive form with a 26-point performance against TCU on January 11, 2025, and secured a crucial win over Arizona with two game-winning free throws on February 22, 2025.
Beyond his on-court achievements, Saunders gained national attention during the 2025 NCAA Tournament. As the great-grandson of F. Nephi Grigg, co-founder of Ore-Ida and inventor of the Tater Tot, he entered into a unique Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal. This partnership led to a promotion offering fans free Tater Tots following BYU’s tournament victories, adding a fun and personal touch to the team’s March Madness run.
In the tournament’s first round, Saunders led BYU to an 80-71 victory over VCU, scoring 16 points. This win advanced the Cougars to the second round, where they faced Wisconsin.