Julius Randle Could Be Added to McDonald’s Game; Wootten Says Ennis Didn’t Receive Enough Votes

Julius Randle could be added as the 25th McDonald’s All-American this year if he proves he’s healthy enough in the next few weeks, committee chairman Morgan Wootten told SNY.tv Friday.

“What we’ll certainly do with Julius — one of the great players in the country, no question, a legitimate four-year man — we’ll take a real good look and see how he comes back physically,” Wootten told SNY.tv. “That’s the key. Everybody knows he can play. It’s just a question of whether he’s physically sound or not.”

The 6-foot-9 Randle out of Prestonwood (TX) Christian was left off the 24-man McDonald’s roster announced Thursday. He has been out since Thanksgiving with a foot injury, but is expected to debut with his team tonight (Friday).

If he plays well and proves himself over the final weeks of the season, he could add a McDonald’s All-American selection to his Jordan Brand Classic selection.

Wootten said there is precedence for adding injured players after the initial list comes out, pointing out that  former DeMatha Catholic star Dereck Whittenburg was added late in 1979 after he returned from a broken foot.

Julius Randle to Return Friday; Florida’s Donovan Watches Him Work Out

Julius Randle will return to the basketball court Friday for the first time since suffering a foot injury two days after Thanksgiving.

Randle, a 6-foot-9 senior forward at Prestonwood (TX) Christian, will play in his team’s district playoff game against Bishop Lynch.

“He’s coming back,” his mother, Carolyn Kyles, told USA Today. “He’s really excited. He’s been doing really well in rehab and he’s been full-contact in practice all week. The coaches are saying that he’s looking like he’s on his way to being the old Julius and even better. They’re saying it’s looking great.”

Florida coach Billy Donovan watched Randle work out Thursday and  was highly impressed.