By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

It hasn’t always been fair for Cohen Richardson.

Southeast boys basketball head coach Matt Dillon admits that.

But in order for the Pirates’ sophomore standout to reach his potential as a player, he has accepted the fact that his best path to success will be the hardest earned.

So far, the path is blazing bright.

After averaging 9.6 as a freshman starter last season, Richardson has pumped his scoring average up to 20.1 this season, while also averaging 10 rebounds per game.

“As a freshman, we put expectations on Cohen that were not fair to him, but he handled them extremely well,” Dillon said. “Only a few kids who have played for us have been challenged as much as he has.”

Only once does Dillon remember Richardson outwardly showing his emotions during a tough practice, which came back when Dillon was coaching Richardson as a seventh-grade player.

“We got on him pretty hard, and he hung his head some. The next day, we asked him if he wanted to be coached the right way or if he wanted to be left alone and just wanted to be average. Cohen’s response was exactly what we wanted to hear and from that day forward, we have coached him like he was a junior.”

Richardson’s response was not only verbal, but physical, too, as he continually is the hardest working player in the Pirates’ practices.

“He works hard, he does everything the coaches ask, he arrives early, he stays late, he practices though, he gets yelled at, he has many expectations on him and what gives us coaches enjoyment is he does it all while smiling and having fun,” Dillon said. “He genuinely loves basketball and working to improve.”

Southeast’s Cohen Richardson (right) drives on the wing against Garfield’s Brandyn Bogucki.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

It is an idea that has been with Richardson since he was able to walk.

By the time he was 2 years old, he was shooting on a Little Tikes hoop in his house. More often than not, if he was awake, he was shooting on the hoop.

His parents recognized his interest and attempted to sign him up for a local recreational league, but they politely had to turn Cohen away because they didn’t accept 2 year olds for the grade-level league.

By the time he was 3, though, he was on the court, playing against older kids.

“I have loved basketball ever since I can remember,” said Richardson, who was ahead of his time playing the game as a toddler just as he is now as a teenager.

Richardson’s ability to not simply step into a starting role from day one for the Pirates a year ago, but to fulfill a leading role, was evidence of the maturity that Dillon has seen him play with since he started coaching him four years ago.

“One of Cohen’s best attributes is how mature he is,” Dillon said. “He was able to play a role as a freshman, get his name in the spotlight some and yet stay humble. Coach (Zeddie) Pollock, coach (Doug) Craver and coach (Nick) Dillon have been instrumental in Cohen’s development. They work with him everyday, pushing him to reach his potential and most importantly, Cohen wants to improve.”

For Richardson, the improvement he is most concerned with is with his team first before his own individual accomplishments.

“The thing about this year is that I don’t think anyone expected us to do what we are doing right now,” Richardson said, reflecting on the Pirates’ eight wins. “I think most probably thought that we were going to have a rebuilding year, but we have worked hard, trusted in ourselves and our coaches and have overachieved what many that we were capable of doing.”

The preseason expectations for the team may not have been fair, but if there was anyone prepared to lead his team against the unfair, it was Richardson.