Book Richardson, Four-Time Elite 8 Coach, to Serve as Academy Head Coach and Director of Boys Basketball at The St. James

Renowned Coach, Mentor and Elite Skill Developer to Build Best Basketball Development Program in the Country

SPRINGFIELD, Va., March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The St. James, the leading sports, wellness and entertainment platform, today announced that Emanuel "Book" Richardson, one of the most well-respected basketball minds in the country, will lead all of boys basketball, including serving as boys head coach of The St. James Performance Academy. Over the last three decades, Book has firmly established himself as an elite coach, tactician and teacher of the game, exceptional developer of talent and a consummate winner, turning around programs at every stop and every level. Richardson's talent, skill, relationships and reputation make The St. James an immediate factor in the national boys high school basketball landscape. Combined with Tamika Dudley, The St. James has the most accomplished and decorated basketball program leadership in the country at any level save for the University of Connecticut. 

Richardson coached at the University of Arizona from 2009 – 2017 helping the Wildcats win four PAC-12 regular season championships, two PAC-12 tournament titles and six NCAA tournament appearances, including five Sweet Sixteens and three Elite Eights. His recruiting efforts at Arizona contributed to the Wildcats securing seven consecutive Top 10 classes, including five Top 5 classes.

Before helping to rebuild the program at Arizona, Richardson helped rebuild the program at Xavier from 2007 – 2009, where he helped the program win two consecutive conference titles, win a school record 30 games and reach an Elite Eight.

Book has coached and developed more than 100 Division 1 players and 52 professionals, including 23 NBA players. He's coached and developed six NBA lottery picks: DeAndre Ayton (No. 1, 2018), Derrick Williams (No. 2, 2011), Aaron Gordon (No. 4, 2014), Lauri Markkanen (No. 7, 2017), Stanley Johnson (No. 8, 2015) and Kemba Walker (No. 9, 2011). 

Richardson was a star point guard at the famed St. Raymond's High School (Bronx, NY), where he lead the team to a city championship during his senior year, and the University of Pittsburg at Johnstown, where he led the program to back-to-back NCAA tournament berths, led all of NCAA Division II in assists in back-to-back seasons and was inducted into the University's Hall of Fame. 

"Book Richardson is elite across every dimension – coaching, mentoring young men, helping players develop, building programs and winning," said Elyse Graziano, Chief Sports Officer of The St. James. "His experience and excellence at every level of the game and in life make him the perfect leader for our boys basketball program. We are so thrilled to have him as a part of our team."

"The St. James represents a singular opportunity to build one of the best basketball development platforms in the world," said Richardson. "I'm incredibly excited to provide basketball lovers at all levels the opportunities to develop that are consistent with their passion and dreams."

The St. James basketball program offers elite training for players of all ages and skill levels and best-in-class camps, clinics, leagues, tournaments and showcases in addition to comprehensive, college preparatory academic and basketball training opportunities available at The St. James Performance Academy. The Academy will offer elementary, middle school, high school and post-graduate teams for the 2025 – 2026 academic year. 

Key features supporting the basketball program include:

• Four premium, regulation sized basketball courts optimally designed for training and competition
• Film study and analytics to enhance player skill development and game IQ
• Performance recovery offerings, including cold plunge, hot plunge, infrared sauna, cryotherapy, compression, massage, IV infusions and red-light therapy
• Performance nutrition providing customized, personalized meal plans to support and drive performance outcomes
• College recruiting guidance helping student-athletes achieving college goals

Richardson joins an impressive group of coaches recently announced to lead programs across multiple sports at The St. James, including Darryl Overton (Football), Tamika Dudley (Girls Basketball), Spencer Ford (Boys Lacrosse), Maurice Hutton (Track and Field) and Josh Tayler (Squash). Together, they create a truly world-class athletic development program giving athletes the training, coaching, mentorship, competition opportunities and exposure necessary to achieve their grandest ambitions.

Applications for the 2025 – 2026 academic year are available at www.thestjames.com/academy and are due on Monday, March 31, 2025.

Our first boys basketball Open House and Evaluation Day will occur on Sunday, March 23 from 4:30 – 7:30pm. Sign up for the Evaluation Day using this link. Academy shadow days for interested prospective students can be requested by visiting www.thestjames.com/academy.

For more information, visit www.thestjames.com and follow @thestjames on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

About The St. James

The St. James Teams give elite athletes year-round training, professional coaching, and competition across multiple sports. With access to state-of-the-art facilities—including performance centers, full-size fields, and recovery spaces—athletes train in an environment built for high-level development. Expert-led programs focus on skill refinement, strength and conditioning, and competitive readiness, preparing players for collegiate athletics, professional careers, and long-term success.

Media Contact:

Kristine Friend

703-239-6870

[email protected] 

SOURCE The St. James