NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — John Calipari has had the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation four years running.
But if everything falls into place, Calipari could potentially outdo himself in 2013.
Just ask Julius Randle.
“I think it could be the best class they’ve ever had,” the 6-foot-9 Randle out of Plano (Texas) Prestonwood Academy said when asked about a potential 2013 class that includes himself, the Harrison Twins, James Young and others.
Randle made the comment after going for 13 points and 9 rebounds in Team Texas Titans’ 57-49 win over BABC Thursday night at the Peach Jam. Earlier in the day, he went for 34 and 16 in an 81-72 win over Wisconsin Playground.
Randle still hasn’t finalized any kind of list but previously said he would like to visit Kentucky and Ohio State, among others.
“Kentucky says it all,” Randle said. “Coach Cal gets the job done. He’s a great coach, he’s a players’ coach and he’s a great person. Kentucky’s a great school. You see what they’ve done the last three years and what he’s done the last couple years in the draft so that says it all.”
Calipari was at the Peach Jam earlier Thursday to watch Randle, Young and Andrew Wiggins, before taking off for Milwaukee in the afternoon to see the Harrisons, Jordan Mickey, D’Angelo Russell and others.
Randle has also mentioned Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, N.C. State, Baylor and Texas.
Asked specifically about Texas, he said: “Texas, of course, they’ve been recruiting me since 8th, 9th grade year so they’re always going to be on the list.”
Still, he said has no official list as of now, and hasn’t given one out to any reporters.
“No man, that wasn’t the list,” he said of a recent ESPN list of schools. “I don’t know what that was. That wasn’t the list . I was just naming schools.”
Last month, Randle averaged 14.2 points and 6.6 rebounds to help led the U.S. U18 team to a gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Brazil.
“Oh man, that was an honor,” Randle said. “It was an honor just to represent my country. It was good for me. It matured me a lot. I became better as a player, as a person, and I couldn’t ask for a better experience than that.”
Photo: USA Basketball
BostonCat / July 19, 2012
twins, young, randle, and either wiggins or parker…any takers?
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kentuckymortgage / July 19, 2012
Yeah, we kind of expect this every year at Kentucky. Calipari is on lock down status for top recruits.
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KingCal8 / July 19, 2012
Cal will get exactly who he needs. Cal will leave a few leftovers for KU and the others so they can at least compete, lol….”.
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BlueCat32 / July 19, 2012
The rich are getting richer.I’m glad no one cares about us “hicks” from Kentucky.
Laughs
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RcKchalk12 / July 20, 2012
KU is fine with leftovers. weve done great with bill self no matter how good the players are out of high school
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KingCal8 / July 20, 2012
I’m glad for you Rckchalk. I surely do not mind KU playing second fiddle to Kentucky.
I bet that you and UNC fans feel like you have been hit by a train….
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kungpaochicken / July 20, 2012
“Yeah, we kind of expect this every year at Kentucky. Calipari is on lock down status for top recruits.”
Reality: this has nothing to do with UK and everything to do with the coach at UK.
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KingCal8 / July 20, 2012
Reality: this has nothing to do with UK and everything to do with the coach at UK.
Whats your point? That is the reality everywhere??? Thats why you hire great coaches, right?
You haters are just full of nonsese!
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