Richmond forward Jack McCaffery leaves team after Hodgkin's Lymphoma diagnosis

Jack McCaffery, a forward for the Richmond Spiders and son of Penn head coach Fran McCaffery, will step away from the team on indefinite medical leave. The school confirmed the diagnosis of Hodgkin's Lymphoma in a statement released on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026.

McCaffery spent the previous year as a freshman at Butler, where he appeared in nine games. He averaged 2.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per contest before an illness and complications from wisdom tooth removal ended his season. He transferred to Richmond during the offseason that followed. His older brother, Connor McCaffery, served as an assistant coach on Butler's staff during that time.

In his own statement, McCaffery expressed gratitude to the Richmond coaching and medical staff for their quick response. He also thanked Kevin Mahoney and the staff at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. "He is in great hands and our family feels blessed to be here, where Jack's care is directed by this world-class care team," McCaffery said.

Richmond head coach Chris Mooney praised the player's character and work ethic. "From the moment Jack arrived at Richmond, he's been an important part of our program," Mooney said. He described McCaffery as a tremendous teammate who earned respect through hard work and commitment to the classroom and the court.

The player entered the 2025 recruiting class as a four-star recruit according to 247Sports. He was ranked as the No. 144 overall player in that year's draft class before joining the college ranks.