The upcoming draft class is going to be one of the best in recent years and if most of the hyped prospects end up living up to the expectations, we could be seeing the start of a new era in the NBA.
Shortly after top prospects Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker – along with the likes of Dante Exum and Marcus Smart, just to name a few – decided to declare eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft, another highly-touted project has announced he will participate in the upcoming event.
This time, the one announcing it was no other than Kentucky Wildcats’ physical phenomenon Julius Randle.
Randle might not be flashy as Wiggins, effective as Parker or loaded with potential like Embiid, but he has all the traits required to be a player at the next level. He’s an imposing presence on both ends of the court and he emerged as the leader of a Kentucky team that made it all the way to the Final Four, where they lost the National Championship game against UConn.
Randle had a very good season for the Wildcats. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward averaged 15 pts, 10.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game for Kansas. However, the numbers don’t tell the whole story of just how much he can do on a basketball court.
Randle can post up with the best of them and he seems to have an NBA-ready body. Injuries could be a concern – as with every single big man entering the Draft – but he appears ready to endure an 82-game season. He’s also effective playing face up to the basket, he’s a great rebounder and he can also be a blocking machine despite the fact that’s he’s slightly short for the PF position.
There’s no question Randle has all the tools to make it at the next level. It only remains to be seen where the highly-touted prospect will start his professional career.