It has been a trying year for Coach Cal and Big Blue Nation to say the least.
Fresh off winning the 2012 NCAA National Title behind the efforts of NBA Lottery picks Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, this year’s squad went through everything from early season inconsistencies and disappointment, lack of a play-making point guard, to a season ending knee injury to star center Nerlens Noel, and finally an embarrassing NIT opening round upset loss to Robert Morris.
But with an all star elite recruiter like coach John Calipari at the helm, things suddenly look bright for the Wildcats heading into next season behind perhaps the best HS recruiting class in college basketball history.
With Wednesday’s commitment of #3 overall ranked prospect in the 2013 Class, top rated power forward Julius Randle, Calipari and his staff has secured a record 6 Top 20 rated recruits in addition to 3 star forward Derek Willis.
Securing Randle, a McDonald’s All American, Jordan Brand Classic participant, and last Summer’s Elite 24 Game Dunk Contest Champion, gives Kentucky the #1 rated PG and SG in Aaron and Andrew Harrison, #1 rated Center Dakari Johnson, along with the 6’9 and 240lb Randle, the universally top ranked power forward. Also committed is fellow Top 20 rated SF James Young and PF Marcus Lee.
Randle missed most of his senior season at Prestonwood Christian HS in Plano, Texas rehabbing a broken foot but returned to average more than 25 ppg, 12 rebounds, and shot 40% on threes at the end of the season to help lead his squad to a state title.
He already has NBA size, can play with both his back to the basket and from the perimeter, and has a great work ethic that propels him to elite status. NBA scouts are enamored with his elite and versatile skill set that many have already compared to Chris Webber, as well as Lebron James and Hall of Famer Karl Malone.
While Noel will probably depart after only his freshman season since he still is projected as a Top 5 NBA Draft pick in spite of the injury, fellow star freshmen Archie Goodwin, Alex Poythress, and Willie Cauley-Stein could decide to return, potentially making Kentucky a preseason Top 5 team for next season.
Julius Randle Commits To Kentucky:
Top 10 Plays of Julius Randle’s Senior Year:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
