Julius Randle could have a very busy New Year’s Day.
The No. 1 power forward in the Class of 2013, Randle says he plans to attend games at both Duke and North Carolina after the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Dec. 27-31.
On New Year’s Day, Carolina hosts Monmouth at 3 p.m., while Duke hosts Penn at 5.
“I know that I’m gonna visit Duke after I leave the Beach Ball Classic later this month,” Randle said on his ESPN.com blog. “My plan is to go to the Duke game then go to the North Carolina game in the same day so I know that will be a crazy experience. I’m really looking forward to getting down there.”
Randle’s Texas Titans AAU teammate Matt Jones recently committed to Duke, and Randle has expressed interest in following him there.
“I’ve been tight with Matt since the fifth grade and I was so excited when he committed to Duke,” Randle said. “He’s come such a long way and I know he’ll fit in really well there.
“Of course Matt is my teammate during the AAU season with the Team Texas Titans so everyone wants to know if that makes Duke more attractive.
“Well, first they were pretty attractive anyway. I can’t say that it doesn’t make them more attractive, but I can’t make my decision based off the fact that my boy is there. It’s all about being the right fit. I’ve got to do what’s right for me. Duke is definitely one of the schools I’m taking a strong look at.
“I know I’ll hear a lot more about Duke all summer when we start AAU though. I’m sure Matt will be coming on strong. ”
Carolina recently landed a pledge from 2013 point guard Nate Britt of Gonzaga, which also has Randle intrigued.
“North Carolina kinda recruits the same type of guards,” Randle said. “Nate, Marcus Paige and Kendall Marshall are all past-first point guards so that’s something that I noticed about them.”
Randle said he’s heard from both Carolina coach Roy Williams and Duke Coach K recently.
“Recently, I spoke with Coach (Steve) Robinson and Coach (Roy) Williams at North Carolina and they just keep telling me about how much they’d like me there,” he said. “I spoke to Coach (Mike) Krzyzewski too. It’s funny; lately we haven’t spoken very much about basketball. He just makes sure everything else is going well with me and keeps me up to speed about what’s going on at Duke. That’s a little different.”
He may also stay an extra day after trip to visit N.C. State with Wolfpack commit Rodney Purvis.
“Me and Rodney have been talking about me staying an extra day and visiting North Carolina State with him,” Randle said. “I liked N.C. State before he committed, but now with him definitely going there along with what else they’re bringing in is attractive. I don’t know a whole lot about the new coaching staff but they’re definitely on my radar.”
Randle has also taken visits to Kansas and Baylor, and said he’s also considering Kentucky and OHio State, among others.
