NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. – Derrick Randall may pull the trigger before the summer ends.
The 6-foot-9 senior, 225-pound who will spend his final year at South Kent (Conn.) after competing at Paterson (N.J.) Catholic says Rutgers leads his list right now.
“I like Rutgers a lot,” Randall, a Brooklyn native, said at the Peach Jam after the Playaz beat California Supreme, 80-49, behind Kyle Anderson’s 17 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, Myles Mack’s 16 points, Desmond Hubert’s 12 and Randall’s 7 points and 7 boards .
“I’m probably going to be making my decision in August deciding where I’m going to be committing to and then sign in the [fall].”
Randall is also considering Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh (if they offer), Marquette, St. John’s and Seton Hall, but Rutgers clearly has the edge.
“Yeah, I like the coach [Mike Rice] a lot. I like the coaching staff and it’s a real nice facility. I’ve been on the campus before,” he said.
“They said they are going to work me out to my highest potential and make me the best player I can be.”
Brian Randall, Derrick’s father who works for the MTA in New York, also enjoyed the recent Rutgers unofficial visit.
“He likes the campus. He likes all the majors you can take,” Derrick said. “I like computers, so they have a computer technology [major], so he likes it a lot.”
Randall also looks forward to playing in the ultra-competitive Big East.
“It’s one of the best conferences, tough completion,” Randall said.
Randall will prep next year at South Kent alongside fellow forwards Kadeem Jack and Maurice Harkless.
“[I want to] try to get a championship,” he said. “Work on my post moves and my dribbling and my shooting and hit the weight room.”
HUBERT NARROWING LIST
Desmond Hubert, Randall’s 6-9 Playaz teammate, is also narrowing his list.
Hubert listed Pittsburgh, Villanova, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Georgetown, Georgia Tech and Maryland.
“I’m starting to come to more of a decision on what schools are going to be on my list and what schools aren’t going to be,” Hubert said.
Still, as first reported by ZAGSBLOG, Pitt and Villanova are at the top.
“I feel really comfortable with those two schools, with the coaching staff, especially at Pitt and Villanova,” Hubert said.
Hubert and Playaz teammate Myles Davis may also choose a school together. Both have interest in Davis as well.
“Me and him have also talked about going to school together and those are two of the schools that are recruiting us,” Hubert said.
While Randall may decide in August, Hubert plans to take his visits first.
“I’m going to wait a little bit longer probably because I definitely want to take my official visits,” he said.
UCLA LOOKING AT MACK
Up until now, Myles Mack has been getting looks mostly from Big East and Atlantic 10 schools, but now UCLA may be entering the picture for the 5-9 point guard from Paterson (N.J.).
“UCLA hasn’t offered yet,” Mack said, adding that they had expressed interest.
Miami, St. John’s, Rutgers, Fordham, Marquette, Virginia, and Providence are also on Mack’s list.
“I don’t have any favorites,” he said.
Mack and Playaz teammate Kyle Anderson will play for Bob Hurley at St. Anthony because PC is closing.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Trying to make it an undefeated season for my last year. It’s our first year there, we want to play as hard as we can for Coach Hurley.”
LAVIN ON THE MOVE
St. John’s coach Steve Lavin is on the West Coast recruiting Norvel Pelle, Jahi Carson, Amir Garrett and Cezar Guerrero at the Pangos All West Camp.
As reported earlier on SNY.tv, Lavin has 10 scholarships to fill for 2011.
FREE THROWS
Former St. Anthony guard Elijah Carter will prep next year at Brewster (N.H.) Academy…
(Photos courtesy Rivals)
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