Richmond forward Jack McCaffery steps away from basketball after lymphoma diagnosis

The Richmond Spiders lost a key offensive option on Sunday when the program announced that forward Jack McCaffery is on indefinite medical leave. The team confirmed the news via a statement after the player was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

McCaffery, the son of Penn head coach Fran McCaffery, had just completed a transfer from Butler. He spent the 2025-26 season at the Monarchs before moving to Richmond in the previous offseason. At Butler, he played in nine games before an illness and dental complications ended his year early.

In a statement, McCaffery thanked the Richmond coaching staff and the medical team at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He noted that his care is being directed by a world-class team and that his family feels blessed to be in their hands.

Richmond head coach Chris Mooney praised the forward's character and work ethic. Mooney described McCaffery as a tremendous teammate who earned respect through commitment on the court and in the classroom. The coach stated that the entire program will support the player and his family during the recovery process.

The McCaffery family has deep ties to the college basketball coaching staff. Jack's older brother, Connor McCaffery, served as an assistant coach on the Butler staff during Jack's time there. Jack entered the 2025 recruiting cycle as a four-star recruit and was ranked the No. 144 overall player by 247Sports.