Photo by: SMC Athletics / Piper Westrom
MBB | Luke Barrett Named Finalist for the Nolan Richardson Leadership Award
3/13/2025 10:04:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BOSTON, Mass. — As just announced by collegeinsider.com, fifth year senior Luke Barrett has been named a finalist for the 2024-25 Nolan Richardson Award. The Nolan Richardson Award is presented annually to a division I player who is the heart and soul of his team and a leader on
and off the court. The award is named for legendary college basketball head coach Nolan Richardson, the only coach to win an NJCCA National Title, an NIT title and an NCAA Tournament Title in his career.
A former walk-on, Luke Barrett earned a scholarship in his third year at Saint Mary's, served as their sixth man and instant burst of energy off the bench last year, and became a full fledged starter this season. The Piedmont, California native put up career numbers in every statistical category, and led the WCC in minutes played per game at 36:27, good for 20th in the country, and eighth all-time for a single season in program history. A do-it-all kind of player, Barrett ranked fourth on the team in scoring, third in rebounding, fourth in assists, fourth in steals, third in blocks, fourth in field goals made and third in three pointers made. His tenacious offensive rebounding from the small forward position gained him notoriety this season, as he was the only three man in the WCC to rank in the top five in o-boards per game. This helped Luke to his first six career double-doubles. Off the court, Luke has led by example in the classroom, earning three WCC All-Academic nods, including back-to-back first team All-Academic honors.
Here is the complete list of finalists:
The 2025 award will be announced in San Antonio, TX, site of the men's
Division I Basketball Championship.
#GaelsRise
and off the court. The award is named for legendary college basketball head coach Nolan Richardson, the only coach to win an NJCCA National Title, an NIT title and an NCAA Tournament Title in his career.
A former walk-on, Luke Barrett earned a scholarship in his third year at Saint Mary's, served as their sixth man and instant burst of energy off the bench last year, and became a full fledged starter this season. The Piedmont, California native put up career numbers in every statistical category, and led the WCC in minutes played per game at 36:27, good for 20th in the country, and eighth all-time for a single season in program history. A do-it-all kind of player, Barrett ranked fourth on the team in scoring, third in rebounding, fourth in assists, fourth in steals, third in blocks, fourth in field goals made and third in three pointers made. His tenacious offensive rebounding from the small forward position gained him notoriety this season, as he was the only three man in the WCC to rank in the top five in o-boards per game. This helped Luke to his first six career double-doubles. Off the court, Luke has led by example in the classroom, earning three WCC All-Academic nods, including back-to-back first team All-Academic honors.
Here is the complete list of finalists:
| Tytan Anderson | 6-6 | Sr. | Northern Iowa |
| Steven Ashworth | 6-0 | Sr. | Creighton |
| Luke Barrett | 6-6 | Sr. | Saint Mary's |
| Austin Benigni | 5-10 | Jr. | Navy |
| Henry Coleman III | 6-8 | Sr. | Texas A&M |
| Jaylani Darden | 6-5 | Sr. | Norfolk State |
| Duke Deen | 5-8 | Sr. | Bradley |
| Geronimo de la Rosa | 6-2 | Sr. | Columbia |
| Donovan Dent | 6-2 | Jr. | New Mexico |
| Chucky Hepburn | 6-2 | Sr. | Louisville |
| Jalen Jackson | 6-2 | Jr. | Purdue Fort Wayne |
| Tavari Johnson | 5-11 | Jr. | Akron |
| Kam Jones | 6-5 | Sr. | Marquette |
| Tamin Lipsey | 6-1 | Jr. | Iowa State |
| Sean Pedulla | 6-1 | Sr. | Ole Miss |
| Will Pruitt | 6-3 | Sr. | Lipscomb |
| Maxime Raynaud | 7-1 | Sr. | Stanford |
| Zuby Ejiofor | 6-9 | Jr. | St. John's |
| J'Wan Roberts | 6-8 | Sr. | Houston |
| Hunter Sallis | 6-5 | Sr. | Wake Forest |
| Mark Sears | 6-1 | Sr. | Alabama |
| Ian Schieffelin | 6-8 | Sr. | Clemson |
| Max Shulga | 6-5 | Sr. | VCU |
| Javon Small | 6-3 | Sr. | West Virginia |
| Braden Smith | 6-0 | Jr. | Purdue |
| Devin Tillis | 6-6 | Sr. | UC Irvine |
| John Tonje | 6-5 | Sr. | Wisconsin |
| Nick Townsend | 6-7 | Jr. | Yale |
| Darrion Williams | 6-6 | Jr. | Texas Tech |
| Zakai Zeigler | 5-9 | Sr. | Tennessee |
Division I Basketball Championship.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
G/F
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