November 12, 1998
Senior center Chris Richards has left the Texas A&M men's basketball team to concentrate on academics, Aggies coach Melvin Watkins said Thursday.
"After conversations with his family and me, Chris has decided to put all his efforts toward graduating and getting his degree," Watkins said. "He realizes that completing his education is critical to his future and we support his decision. We wish him the best of luck."
The 6-foot-10 Richards appeared in 20 games last season, averaging 4.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game while connecting on 62.3 percent from the field. He scored in double figures in three games, including a season-high 14 points against Bethune-Cookman. Richards sat out the 1996-97 season after transferring from TCU, where he played in 43 games as a freshman and sophomore.
Richards is a 1994 graduate of Academy High School in Temple, where he earned first-team Class 2A all-state honors as a senior after averaging 29.2 points and 13.8 rebounds per game.