Derrick Randall says he’s in a “better” place now that he’s at Pittsburgh and away from Rutgers and the Mike Rice scandal.
“I have scars, but I am getting better – I smile because I don’t like to show my feelings – but it’s still with me. I get better day-by-day,” the 6-foot-9 Randall told Roger Rubin of the Daily News after grabbing five rebounds in Pitt’s 76-53 win over Texas Tech Monday in the Legends Classic.
Randall, a Brooklyn native and former Paterson (N.J.) Catholic standout, was one of four former Rutgers players who transferred after the Rice scandal in which he hurled basketball and homophobic slurs at his players. All four were granted waivers to play immediately this season. Randall told the Daily News he’s now in therapy with a psychiatrist because of what happened at Rutgers.
“I wanted to leave Rutgers in the middle of the season because the pressures there made me unhappy, but my father wanted me to see it through,” Randall said. “I knew after the season, I had to get out. Then my mother passed and I knew I needed to get away.”
Randall is now one of three former New Jersey prep star playing in the frontcourt for coach Jamie Dixon, along with Lamar Patterson (23 points) and Mike Young, both of whom finished up at St. Benedict’s Prep.
“I feel like I am finally away from the (stress), I’m calmer,” he said “I have a team that comforts me and basketball is fun again.”
Pitt meets Stanford Tuesday night in the championship game of the Legends Classic.
Photo: Daily News
