CHICAGO (October 1, 2019) – Ben Richardson, the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a standout on Loyola University Chicago's Final Four team of two years ago, will continue his professional playing career this season by playing for BC Geosan Kolin in the Czech Republic. Last season, the 6-foot-3 guard played in the Polish EBL league for MKS Dabrowa Gornicza. 
 
In 33 games with MKS Dabrowa Gornicza in 2018-19, the Overland Park, Kansas native put up 8.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game, helping the club reach the Polish Cup semifinal round. 
 
During his four-year career with the Ramblers, Richardson led the program to 89 total wins, the most over a four-year period since freshmen became eligible in the 1970s. During the magical 2017-18 campaign that culminated with Loyola's first trip to the NCAA Final Four since 1963, the 6-foot-3 guard contributed 6.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 40 percent (38-for-95) from three-point range, in 28 appearances. 
 
A stalwart on the defensive end of the floor his entire career, Richardson was hailed as the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2017-18 and also tabbed Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA South Regional after erupting for a career-high 23 points, hitting 6-of-7 shots from beyond the arc, while adding six rebounds and four assists, in Loyola's 78-62 victory over Kansas State in the Elite 8. 
 
Over his final three games of the 2018 NCAA tournament, Richardson averaged 11.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.0 spg, while shooting 61.9 percent (13-for-21) from the field and 54.5 percent (6-for-11) from three-point territory. With him in the lineup that season, Loyola posted a staggering 26-2 record.
 
Richardson joins several of his former Rambler teammates who are playing professional basketball this season, including Clayton Custer (Poland), Milton Doyle (Chicago Bulls), Aundre Jackson (Ukraine) and Marques Townes (Spain). Other former Ramblers competing overseas include Jordan Hicks (France), Tracy Robinson (Brazil) and Blake Schilb (France).