When does PF Randle decide?

[gymgator]

When is final signing day for 2013 BBall? Is he waiting on Young to see if he goes pro?

Not positive Young is consistent enough to not take advantage of another year to develop his offensive game and FThrow percentage.

[REM08]

Originally Posted by gymgator

When is final signing day for 2013 BBall? Is he waiting on Young to see if he goes pro?

Not positive Young is consistent enough to not take advantage of another year to develop his offensive game and FThrow percentage.

Players don't have to sign and can wait till the last minute and just enroll in classes. Randle doesn't seem to be in any hurry and, unless he just really knew where he wanted to go, would be dumb not to see how the rosters of the teams he's considering shape up for next year.

Young is in a tough position. He doesn't need to return though. He can improve in the NBA just like he can in college. He's facing an weak draft class this year and a very strong one the next. It all depends on whether he's focused on draft stock, graduating, or being the best possible player he can be when he enters the draft. Do I remember hearing that he was graduating this year?

[jmac83]

I'd love to see a five-game stretch in which Pat decided to own the paint, both offensively and defensively, the entire game. Because to me, he remains tentative far below his potential (more so on offense). He'll show you glimpses, then long stretches where he seems to be content in the background.

[InstiGATOR1]

Randle was at UTx on his official visit this weekend:

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcspor...fficial-visit/

I believe he is at KU for his official next weekend. Once he is home from his last official, then the Randle watch is truly on.

Alphabetically his finalists are UF, KU, UK, NCSU, OU and UTx. Certainly several of these programs have had seasons that are some what disappointing so far.

[InstiGATOR1]

Originally Posted by REM08

Young is in a tough position. He doesn't need to return though. He can improve in the NBA just like he can in college. He's facing an weak draft class this year and a very strong one the next. It all depends on whether he's focused on draft stock, graduating, or being the best possible player he can be when he enters the draft. Do I remember hearing that he was graduating this year?

Young is in a great position. His family's plan all along was reported to be for Young to come to UF graduate in 3 years and enter the NBA draft. It is as you suggested working out to be a bit of a down draft and next years draft MIGHT be better. So assuming Young comes through this season uninjured, I would guess once the season is over and he rationally thinks about what to do that entering the draft will get very serious consideration.

[BengermanV]

Originally Posted by InstiGATOR1

Young is in a great position. His family's plan all along was reported to be for Young to come to UF graduate in 3 years and enter the NBA draft. It is as you suggested working out to be a bit of a down draft and next years draft MIGHT be better. So assuming Young comes through this season uninjured, I would guess once the season is over and he rationally thinks about what to do that entering the draft will get very serious consideration.

If this is the case, I sure hope Pat finishes the season strong. I'd love to see him go to the NBA and be successful (he is one of my favorite all-time Gators), but he will be lucky to go early 2nd round (where most mock drafts seem to have him) when he probably has first round talent and size.

We'll see. I follow him on Twitter and have talked to him briefly on campus, and he, along with a few of the other basketball players, seem to really enjoy the college experience and get along really well. Either way, I hope he makes the decision that is right for him -- no matter which one it is.

[don23lucia]

Randle will be a last minute decision.


If pat leaves I hope the magic get him in the 2nd I haven't seen to many projections with him in the first round. I hope he does ultimately come back.

[InstiGATOR1]

Young began the season as a late 1st round pick in most mock drafts. Oddly he has had a solid season and dropped while guys like BJ Young have not dropped much in the mock drafts yet. He is 32 in the draftexpress.com mock which is a really plugged site and actually seems to influence what other sites say.

That means it would only take a handful of guys staying or mildly impressing in the pre-draft workouts to be in the first round as I think he will be. Of course a huge thing will be how tall he measures.

[madgator]

His tournament is going to determine his draft status. I expect Patric to have a HUGE surge down the stretch this season.

I also expect him to go in the middle of the first round if he decides to leave. His measurables are off the charts and his potential is large.

[gymgator]

I agree his potential is great, but he is a JR this year and is still inconsistent and doesn't dominate in results = to his size, strength, speed, etc. It will soon, stop being about potential and more being about results.

But I would rather have Pat for his SR season than Randle for a 1 and done FR season.

[REM08]

Insta - good point about what Young measures at. Wingspan will matter too, just not as much. Think there's a chance Young is 6'10 with shoes? That'd sure help him.

gym - good point also about senior Young vs freshmen Randle. I think I agree with Young as the pick because of how much other talent will be on UF's roster. I think there's a chance a freshmen Randle is better, but its the risk of an unknown when you have a roster that doesn't need that chance.

[UFG8rGuy3283]

Originally Posted by REM08

Insta - good point about what Young measures at. Wingspan will matter too, just not as much. Think there's a chance Young is 6'10 with shoes? That'd sure help him.

gym - good point also about senior Young vs freshmen Randle. I think I agree with Young as the pick because of how much other talent will be on UF's roster. I think there's a chance a freshmen Randle is better, but its the risk of an unknown when you have a roster that doesn't need that chance.

Agreed. Sr Young over Frosh Randle only because of Hill and Walker having significant minutes as freshmen and, with the very rare exception of 2011-12 UK, you need upper classmen leadership and experience.

I love Randle. I would love to land him, although as of today, we are probably not truly in the mix.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Young will be better as a pro than he is in college, he gets abused -held, pushed pulled w no calls then gets called for fouls for guys that flop when he breathes on them - he will be a better defender and a better rebounder in the NBA

[demosthenes]

Young's height will hurt him. He also doesn't seem to elevate very well.

[rserina]

Not sure what some expect to see from Young. He been far more actively and aware defensively, as he was down the stretch his freshman year, and that is the key to his success at the next level.

But he will never be very productive offensively given the group we have around him. There are just too many guys who can score. Horford went for 11 and 8 as a sophomore, Noah for 12 and 8 as a junior, Lee for 13 and 7 as a junior. Those guys have become NBA All-Stars. Young is averaging around 11 and 7 this year, while upping his blocked shots close to two and is shooting over 61% (better than Lee or Horford at any point in their careers and really only trailing Noah as a sophomore).

I think he could easily be a first rounder because he has the size, strength, and athleticism to defend most fours and some fives in the NBA. Given the move toward spacing and heavy pick and roll schemes rather than three man or motion stuff that caught on for awhile, most teams aren't looking for traditional fives, but guys who are athletic and can defend and finish pick and rolls. Young is fine in pretty solid in those areas.

[dailydoublecat]

I wouldn't worry too much about Randle!! He is loving this process and will take as much time as he can. Enjoy your team and March Madness.
Jeff

[tampajack1]

Originally Posted by rserina

Not sure what some expect to see from Young. He been far more actively and aware defensively, as he was down the stretch his freshman year, and that is the key to his success at the next level.

But he will never be very productive offensively given the group we have around him. There are just too many guys who can score. Horford went for 11 and 8 as a sophomore, Noah for 12 and 8 as a junior, Lee for 13 and 7 as a junior. Those guys have become NBA All-Stars. Young is averaging around 11 and 7 this year, while upping his blocked shots close to two and is shooting over 61% (better than Lee or Horford at any point in their careers and really only trailing Noah as a sophomore).

I think he could easily be a first rounder because he has the size, strength, and athleticism to defend most fours and some fives in the NBA. Given the move toward spacing and heavy pick and roll schemes rather than three man or motion stuff that caught on for awhile, most teams aren't looking for traditional fives, but guys who are athletic and can defend and finish pick and rolls. Young is fine in pretty solid in those areas.

Patric gets enough touches to average 15 PPG. His problem is that he has trouble scoring even when he gets the ball right near the basket. The rest of Patric's game is solid, but he is not a good scorer.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by tampajack1

Patric gets enough touches to average 15 PPG. His problem is that he has trouble scoring even when he gets the ball right near the basket. The rest of Patric's game is solid, but he is not a good scorer.

We've had two low post players average fifteen points per game during Donovan's tenure. One was Haslem, whose best scoring seasons came on teams with massive injury problems or at times few other scoring options on the perimeter, and the other was Speights, who played on possibly our worst team since Donovan's first year. This year, we not only play slower than some of those other teams and thus get fewer shot attempts up, but we also have two volume shooters on the perimeter, a point guard who can get his own points off the bounce, and a shooting four who merits his fare share of shots. For Young to get fifteen points a game, he would need to shoot about 90% from the floor--literally. He shoots over 61% now on just under seven attempts a game for a 10.8 ppg average and upping that average to 15 would equate to hitting roughly two more attempts per game, or 89% of his total shot attempts.

Regardless, my argument is that you can't measure his game by his offensive productivity, so if that is your point, then I agree.

[tegator80]

My take isn't that Patric needs stats to get selected in the first round but what do I see him do with the rock when he gets it. He has moves around the basket that, at his height, won't likely work in the NBA. He hit a baseline jumper a couple of weeks ago (USC?) late in the game. If he begins to show that he can hit that one consistently then I see him leaving after the end of this season. That is unless he is having a blast at UF and wants one more year just for the heck of it.

I think that having Scottie mature in his driving and dishing is going to help greatly in his "proven" development.

Regarding Randle, it would be nice to get him but I am not going to fret if we don't.

[UFG8rGuy3283]

Patric has the physical tools to be similar to Brandon Bass. He's just not the scorer Bass was.

He will make a living at the next level with maximum effort on the boards and scoring against thinner, less physical 4s.