Put your Randle speculation here...

[InstiGATOR1]

With the Randle visit coming up while yours truly is in Maui, I thought I would start a speculation thread in part based on this article [click through to all 4 parts]:

http://www.usatodayhss.com/news/article/top-hoops-recruit-julius-randle-in-home-visits-kentucky-1

on his first five in home visits. I will list his 10 schools and mention some nuggets from the article and elsewhere on each school:

1. UF: his high school coach is Dillon Graham's old coach.
2. Baylor: Closest geographically to mom of his 10 schools and started recruiting him first.
3. Duke: Mom is a Duke fan and Duke spent a whole day with him.
4. UK: Cal knows mom loves red velvet cake.
5. KU: Self was direct and less buddy buddy than the other 4 coaches in the first week of in homes.
6. NCSU: The article is nice about NCSU but it sounds like they are not a favorite.
7. UNC: Williams was less laid back than they expected.
8. OU: Randle's God father played at OU.
9. OSU: I am not sure why they are in the mix???
10. UTx: Randle has been on a recent unofficial to UTx.

So UK has had an official visit. Randle is coming to UF on the weekend of the 6 Oct. So I wonder who gets the other 3 officials? McKinney, Tx is 127 miles from Baylor, 180 miles from OU, 228 miles from Austin and 233 miles from OSU. So I guess he could do all of them on his own dime and take officials to the others less one.

[REM08]

I have no speculation with this kid. I haven't even felt like I could read the tea leaves when it came to his recruitment. Also, the UK folks who usually start whispering once they know something don't seem to have much of a feeling on him either.

I do know I've been very impressed by the interviews he's done.

Here's an article that mentions him dealing with negative recruiting:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/highschool/09/27/negative-recruiting-impacts-top-players/index.html?sct=hs_t11_a0#

"I don't really like hearing about why I shouldn't go to certain schools too much," said Julius Randle, a rising senior forward at Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas). "It happens all the time, but, for me, I just don't like when coaches do that."

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/highschool/09/27/negative-recruiting-impacts-top-players/index.html#ixzz27hkONwes


As the top ranked player in the Rivals150, Randle has had to deal with "an unreal amount" of negative recruiting tactics. Some coaches said that Duke and North Carolina didn't properly develop players, while others said Kentucky was too crowded.

"It's crazy," Randle said. "But I have a mind of my own. Every school has pros and cons and the same school that's dissing a certain school isn't talking about their cons. I look at it as the coaches just hating."

Still, sometimes, even hating yields some degree of truth.

Randle's mother, Carolyn Kyles, said that when coaches down other schools it prompts her to do her own investigating.

"I listen to what the coaches say, but I don't react to it," Kyles said. "But then I go and watch the team play and sometimes what they're saying is true on some level. The biggest thing it does to me is makes me pay closer attention."

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/highschool/09/27/negative-recruiting-impacts-top-players/index.html#ixzz27hkgfLlw

[StrangeGator]

Don't like our chances with a kid from Texas. No rational reasoning there. Just a hunch. I think we've got better shot at Parker. No other hunch about where Randle will go, just hope it's not Kentucky if it's not UF.

[jeffphillips21]

he likes BD, who coached him over the summer. I think once we get him on campus and Donovan has a good long talk with him (plus that we've got Hill and Walker), shows him we have a legit shot at a NC, etc I think we have as good a shot as any. I know UK rolled the red carpet for him but Billy already has a great rapport with him...going to be a long recruiting process but I would't count us out

[Apeman]

He seems like a grounded guy, particularly for his age.

[don23lucia]

I thought he was going to reschedule the visit for UF? I think we have a shot at him I know we are a little late in the game but just like Parker he listed us and he is listening so anything could happen.

[REM08]

Take this for what its worth (possibly not much), but a writer named Jason Jordan from USA today who does recruiting stuff was on a local radio station here in Lexington and was asked a lot about Randle's recruitment. He operates out of Texas and claims to be very close to Randle and his mother. He, apparently, is so close to the family that he's been around for every in-home visit Randle has had with coaches. He explains that, because of NCAA regs, he has to technically leave the Randle house just before a coach arrives and often ends up waiting in his car across the street. Keep in mind, I always assume that information given on a local station may be biased towards the local audience. But he mentioned Kentucky and Texas being in a "great position" and mentioned that Duke and UNC were looking good as well. He then stated that these four were probably a step ahead at the moment. Its worth noting that he premised his statements by saying he was really being put on the spot and that his opinion was merely speculation.

I hesitated to even post this, but considering the title of the thread is "speculation," I figured we weren't on a search for cold, hard facts and that this tidbit qualified as some form of information at least. Its so early in his recruitment that I dont' think any of this really matters. He very well may have 5 different leaders over the next 5 months. He also doesn't visit you guys till next weekend.

[InstiGATOR1]

...Keep in mind, I always assume that information given on a local station may be biased towards the local audience. But he mentioned Kentucky and Texas being in a "great position" and mentioned that Duke and UNC were looking good as well. He then stated that these four were probably a step ahead at the moment. Its worth noting that he premised his statements by saying he was really being put on the spot and that his opinion was merely speculation.

I hesitated to even post this, but considering the title of the thread is "speculation," ...


... Its so early in his recruitment that I dont' think any of this really matters. He very well may have 5 different leaders over the next 5 months. He also doesn't visit you guys till next weekend.

1. Yep and to confirm you assumption, he says that the big state school for Randle, UTx, and the local school for the broadcast are out in front. Then he mentions two other schools with big basketball only fan bases.

2. You should not hesitate at all. This kind of report is great for this thread.

3. I would not assume he will not sign early. I know he has said he probably is signing late, but I think he has left the door ajar for signing early. He will have been to UF and UK on officials. He has been to UTx on an unofficial. I suspect he knows plenty about Baylor, OU, and OSU. So the issue is how seriously he wants to look into Duke, terrible at developing bigs, NCSU and UNC.

I keep waiting for a report that says or alludes to his UF visit is a courtesy visit for the guy who coached him on team USA.

[GatorLurker]

My speculation is that he waits to see what other schools bring in and chooses his best option for an NC as a 1-and-done.

[gatormann]

The Gators have two things going for them here. First, he played for and likes Donovan. Second, he likes the idea of playing with his buddies Hill and Walker.

Randle will visit and we'll see...

[GatorPlanet]

Randle just had an in-home visit from Billy, and is coming to Gainesville this Friday. Turn out in force for the LSU game, Gator fans, and show him what game day is like in Titletown.

[phideltdj]

What would be great is to get the student section organized to start a We want Randle chant at the football game...how awesome would it be for him to hear 90K plus cheering for him at a football game. Maybe a fraternity section could get the chant going and get the whole stadium into it. It's been a long time since the UF crowd has started something new.

[EvenParGator]

Courtesy visit for entertainment purposes only. Respect for BD and a good time.

[InstiGATOR1]

Here is a UTx fan site report on both Randle and Embiid:

http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2012/9/20/3353968/texas-longhorns-basketball-2013-recruiting-rick-barnes-julius-randle-joel-embiid-demarcus-croaker

Of interest to us, they say:

I previously thought Duke, where Randle's AAU teammate Jones will play next year, would ultimately be the pick, but Kentucky or Florida have been the "buzziest" schools lately.

and

My gut tells me that Texas makes Randle's final five, which he may release after finishing up his in-home visits, but not final one.

Their information on Embid a bit old and contains nothing too new.

[your_perfect_enemy]

I understand the appeal of Austin, but if you want to win as a one and done why on earth would you go to ut who perennially does less with more than any school I can think of.

[GatorLurker]

ut who perennially does less with more than any school I can think of.

I thought that UNC under Dean Smith was the "gold standard" of under-performance.

[jmoliver]

Randle cut his list to six today and UF made the cut. Still think it is UK

[dailydoublecat]

This is going to drag on and on and on. Grab a seat it's going to be a long flight imho

[jshaas]

Daily where do u think he goes

[dailydoublecat]

Daily where do u think he goes

From people I trust I think Florida, NC State, and Kentucky will battle it out. The funny thing was Roy told him to cut down his list and he did by cutting UNC. My heart tells me UK but my head says not to sleep on those other two either. It's going to be long and drawn out.

[Osiris_DPM]

In reality both Florida and UK have very good shots here, and a lot will depend on who commits to UK in this class before Julius makes his decision. There are some heavy hitters recruiting this kid for both programs, and Florida currently has the advantage of its committed elite recruits Chris Walker and Kasey Hill (and even future elite Florida recruits like Joel Berry), who Randle is friends with and respects as elite players, doing a lot of recruiting as well. Do not underestimate what goes on behind the scenes, or assume that Florida does not have its own very influential presences behind the scenes to compete with the other big programs.

Interestingly, the discussion in the other thread about Chris Walker's brashness and attention-seeking behavior, is just the kind of thing that feeds into this type of recruiting. Chris's self-promotion and chest-pumping proclamations that the National Championship necessarily runs through Gainesville in 2014 en route to a one-and-done lottery selection is getting Julius's attention, and he is definitely game to play with Kasey and Chris (they have talked about it for some time) to win an NCAA Tourney Championship. The 2013-2014 UF roster definitely has the talent and personnel to cut down the nets, the coaching to develop NBA talent (which Julius experienced first hand this summer), and the star-power to showcase one-and-done talent.

We can thank Brad Beal for proving that last one. As great as it would have been to have him back, that #3 selection by a kid that was not projected to be a one-and-done player going into the year gave the coaches all sorts of recruiting cred, legitimizing not only the exposure at UF, but the coaching as well. Because of that, a kid like Chris Walker, who has every intention to be a one-and-done, was not affected by the type of negative recruiting that swayed some of the one-and-done kids in recent past. The addition of those kids, along with the transfers, to the core of the returning roster means the 2013-2014 squad has the potential to be the most talented roster top-to-bottom that has ever suited up for UF.

So yes, all of that is weighing in favor of UF, giving the Gators a very real shot. It's just that there are factors that are strong pulls for the other schools on his list as well. This isn't an easy decision for him precisely because he is considering all of those things, and the "best" place to go in order to 1) develop as a player, 2) win a title, 3) have fun, and 4) become a one-and-done lottery selection takes some thought and investigation by a recruit these days. Now that other schools are getting on board with the one-and-done thing and demonstrating success, UK is not the "default" destination for those types anymore as it seemed they were in the recent years under Calipari (although certainly still very attractive for that goal).

[don23lucia]

This will be a huge weekend for the Gator's has anyone heard if Walker or Hill will be at the game as well?

[tampajack1]

In reality both Florida and UK have very good shots here, and a lot will depend on who commits to UK in this class before Julius makes his decision. There are some heavy hitters recruiting this kid for both programs, and Florida currently has the advantage of its committed elite recruits Chris Walker and Kasey Hill (and even future elite Florida recruits like Joel Berry), who Randle is friends with and respects as elite players, doing a lot of recruiting as well. Do not underestimate what goes on behind the scenes, or assume that Florida does not have its own very influential presences behind the scenes to compete with the other big programs.

Interestingly, the discussion in the other thread about Chris Walker's brashness and attention-seeking behavior, is just the kind of thing that feeds into this type of recruiting. Chris's self-promotion and chest-pumping proclamations that the National Championship necessarily runs through Gainesville in 2014 en route to a one-and-done lottery selection is getting Julius's attention, and he is definitely game to play with Kasey and Chris (they have talked about it for some time) to win an NCAA Tourney Championship. The 2013-2014 UF roster definitely has the talent and personnel to cut down the nets, the coaching to develop NBA talent (which Julius experienced first hand this summer), and the star-power to showcase one-and-done talent.

We can thank Brad Beal for proving that last one. As great as it would have been to have him back, that #3 selection by a kid that was not projected to be a one-and-done player going into the year gave the coaches all sorts of recruiting cred, legitimizing not only the exposure at UF, but the coaching as well. Because of that, a kid like Chris Walker, who has every intention to be a one-and-done, was not affected by the type of negative recruiting that swayed some of the one-and-done kids in recent past. The addition of those kids, along with the transfers, to the core of the returning roster means the 2013-2014 squad has the potential to be the most talented roster top-to-bottom that has ever suited up for UF.

So yes, all of that is weighing in favor of UF, giving the Gators a very real shot. It's just that there are factors that are strong pulls for the other schools on his list as well. This isn't an easy decision for him precisely because he is considering all of those things, and the "best" place to go in order to 1) develop as a player, 2) win a title, 3) have fun, and 4) become a one-and-done lottery selection takes some thought and investigation by a recruit these days. Now that other schools are getting on board with the one-and-done thing and demonstrating success, UK is not the "default" destination for those types anymore as it seemed they were in the recent years under Calipari (although certainly still very attractive for that goal).

This is one of the better posts that I have read in a while.

[REM08]

This is one of the better posts that I have read in a while.

I agree. I think too few Florida fans realize the implications of Beals one year.

[jeffphillips21]

and the fact that he came in ranked and (draft) projected lower than his actual draft pick, makes BD look good. Shows he can develop that kind of talent and take to the next level (and beyond)