And Randle goes shopping

[InstiGATOR1]

Randle goes shopping and:

@JayJayUSATODAY: Went hat shopping tonight with Julius Randle. All four - #Kansas #Kentucky #Florida #Texas - snapbacks purchased. http://t.co/vLLFLYQxcd

[jsc28]

Originally Posted by InstiGATOR1

Randle goes shopping and:

I think he is going to UK, but hope I am wrong.

[jmoliver]

Hope he saved the receipt for the Gator hat.

[InstiGATOR1]

UK fans all say UK. KU fans are all sure it is KU. No UTx chatter that I have found.

[gatordee]

Could be a very special class if we could pull him. However, I just do not see him in O&B.

[mrgator]

I don't think he picks Florida considering we have two bigs that have been sitting out a year AND we have another big on the recruiting list. Add in Yugette being a sure fire starter next year? I'd be surprised. But anything is possible.

[austingator]

He stays home and goes to the Horns as he knows he will be the guy there. One and done anyway. I think UF could be his best fit but do not see him choosing us.

[dailydoublecat]

He is coming to Kentucky from what I've been told, but this is recruiting!

Jeff

[REM08]

My take is Kentucky as well, although you never know with 17 year old kids. I usually go in with an expectation, but try to keep in mind that crazy things happen. I think this one is a case where the coaches already know though.

I also think who is at what position on each team and who has who returning don't really matter to Randle. He's good enough he'll get starters minutes. This kid is really good. By February and March none of these coaches would be able to keep him off the floor.

[mjbuf05]

What happens if UK only has 1 guy go pro this year? They don't have the schollies open for all these guys do they?

[DeBigLeezard]

So...
If we don't get Randle...
Who else are we looking at?

What I love is the fact that Florida has established itself as a top shelf basketball program on national level.
And this has been the case now for almost ten years.
We got one of the best coaches in the NCAA.
Great facilities, improving fan support.

With all of these factors... we will always have a very high chance of getting "top shelf" players.
So... who else are we looking for?

[REM08]

Originally Posted by mjbuf05

What happens if UK only has 1 guy go pro this year? They don't have the schollies open for all these guys do they?

The short version of this is that we had 1 scholly unused this year, 2 players graduating, and 3 walkons that were awarded scholarships yearly only if available. Most seem to expect at least 1 transfer. Its actually also likely that UK adds another player besides Randle in a 4 year back up PG out of Kentucky (not highly ranked).

[wci347]

He sees that Florida via placements in the NBA that are success stories, talent such Kadji and Vargas who were castaways from Florida, and the current success of the team, Sees Hill and Walker as dynamic game changers as well as a mix of upperclassmen that could take this team to a national championship easily with him on board, and decides to commit to Donovan who was his Team USA coach.

[Colin]

Also PY is coming back (IMO). Would give us 5 bigs and four that would get more minutes than Randle for sure. If he is a one and done kid then let UK have him.

[REM08]

Originally Posted by Colin

Also PY is coming back (IMO). Would give us 5 bigs and four that would get more minutes than Randle for sure. If he is a one and done kid then let UK have him.

If you've got 4 bigs who get more playing time than Randle then you've either got a coach who plays experienced players (and Walker?) more time than younger players just because of seniority OR your team is going to be undefeated next year to be that stacked.

Or you're just wrong.

[wci347]

5 bigs will put us in a position to win a national championship. We'd have three perhaps four point guards if Ogbueze stays, two-three two gurards if Graham stays and Prather slips to the 2, two small forwards in Smith and Walker, three power forwards in Walker, Yeguette and Randle, and two centers in Harris and Young. That gives us 14, but it also gives us a team that could almost go three deep strong at every position.

[mjbuf05]

Originally Posted by REM08

If you've got 4 bigs who get more playing time than Randle then you've either got a coach who plays experienced players (and Walker?) more time than younger players just because of seniority OR your team is going to be undefeated next year to be that stacked.

Or you're just wrong.

Finney smith, harris, young and yeugette are all gonna be back and all of them are seasoned, add in walker and yes our frontcourt is loaded with or without randle.

[REM08]

Originally Posted by mjbuf05

Finney smith, harris, young and yeugette are all gonna be back and all of them are seasoned, add in walker and yes our frontcourt is loaded with or without randle.

Loaded, no question. My take is that Randle, a soon to be lottery pick and number 2 player in his class, isn't going to be 5th behind those guys in minutes played. He might be the best player on the team depending on how he and Hill look (I guess consider DFS also based on practice rumors).

This quote from a national writer sums it up pretty well:

Eric Prisbell ‏@EricPrisbell

According to several elite college coaches I have talked to, the freshman with best chance to be national player of year is Julius Randle.

[gogators73]

I'm shocked we are even still a hat on the table.

[jsc28]

Originally Posted by gogators73

I'm shocked we are even still a hat on the table.

I think that goes back to the connection Billy had with him, while coaching over the summer.