Alabama basketball has picked up the second commitment of its 2026 recruiting class.
Jaxon Richardson announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide on Thursday, March 5.
The four-star small forward out of Southeastern Prep in Orlando, Florida is the No. 21 player in the nation and No. 4 player in his state, three spots behind Prolific Prep guard and Alabama target Caleb Holt, who remains uncommitted.
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Richardson joins guards Tarris Bouie, a four-star out of SPIRE Academy in Ohio, and five-star Qayden Samuels, who signed with the Crimson Tide on Jan. 30. The trio makes up the No. 9 recruiting class in the country, per 247Sports.
Here are three things to know about Richardson.
Newest Alabama basketball commitment has NBA bloodlines
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound explosive athlete is the son of 14-year NBA veteran Jason Richardson, who won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest twice during his time as a pro. He is also the brother of Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson, who played collegiately for his father’s alma mater, Michigan State.
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Jaxon Richardson started out as a player on the keys
Richardson was a “piano prodigy” first,” per Sports Stars of Tomorrow. Around age 12, Richardson won a national piano competition.
New Crimson Tide commitment once didn’t care for basketball
Basketball didn’t become a priority for Richardson until he was playing alongside Jase as students at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas before the two transferred to Columbus High in Miami.
“At first, I wasn’t really interested in basketball. I was kind of like into nature and stuff like that,” Richardson told SSOT. “I didn’t really start liking basketball until about my freshman year.”
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Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Newest 2026 Alabama basketball recruit is son of former-NBA player
