anya's problem is that he's put on 40 pounds since those pictures and he bites on the first pump fake every time like leslie. and he has no second jump ability. also with the excess weight once he gets moving in one direction it pretty much takes him out of the play as it takes him too long to reset

1/30/2013 2:34:01 PM

anya's arms don't look as long as cedric simmons.

man i miss him.

1/30/2013 6:36:38 PM

Quote :

"Jason Jordan @JayJayUSATODAY Julius Randle on NC State AD Debbie Yow: "Oh she was real cool! I liked her." Blog coming this afternoon..."

1/31/2013 10:45:27 AM

Where is his blog? ESPN? One of the recruiting networks?

1/31/2013 11:13:46 AM

^ new one isn't up yet but here's the last one

http://www.usatodayhss.com/news/article/julius-randle-on-getting-healthy-patience-and-the-latest-on-his-recruitment

1/31/2013 11:21:56 AM

would be really interesting to see if either brown or leslie might actually end up staying. Neither is exactly rated particularly high on any of the draft boards I've been looking at the moment. Not saying I expect it to happen, but just imagine what that team could look like

1/31/2013 12:49:04 PM

^Do you mean before or after Barber and Anya decommit?

1/31/2013 1:00:09 PM

^i don't think he means that. what does that even mean, especially anya?

1/31/2013 1:04:23 PM

Losing Howell to graduation I don't think there's any risk of Anya wanting to get out in any scenario. I could see there being some issue with Barber, but it would be Lewis taking a backseat or transfer if anything there.

No one we're getting is gonna be a one and done anyway unless its Randle which is not guaranteed and even then I'm not sure he's a perfect lock for one and done.

I don't think its realistic to think we'd keep both, but I can see a scenario where Leslie leaves but brown stays. Doubt it would be the other way around.

[Edited on January 31, 2013 at 1:14 PM. Reason : clarification]

1/31/2013 1:11:57 PM

here's the randle blog

http://www.usatodayhss.com/news/article/julius-randle-blogs-about-trip-to-nc-state

back to back posting and don't give a shit

1/31/2013 1:13:35 PM

anya and barber have signed anyways.

1/31/2013 1:15:17 PM

Quote :

"All in all, I’d have to say that this was my best visit so far. I had a ball at Kentucky, and yeah they had Drake and everything, but this visit just had a lot more going on. State definitely set the bar high on the visits."

ill take it

1/31/2013 1:17:28 PM

Quote :

" That next morning we had breakfast with the coaches and I talked more one-on-one with Coach Gottfried a little. I like him even more after this visit. He’s a really genuine person. The whole team really seems like a family. They’re all like brothers and that’s something I really liked about them. I think the biggest thing I learned over the weekend was that if I came there they wouldn’t have to change anything about their system for me. It just fits me. Other coaches talk about what they’ll change for me, but with State they don’t have to do that. That’s big. All in all, I’d have to say that this was my best visit so far. I had a ball at Kentucky, and yeah they had Drake and everything, but this visit just had a lot more going on. State definitely set the bar high on the visits"

awesome

1/31/2013 1:19:15 PM

Translation: I'm going to Kentucky, so I need to say something nice about State here

1/31/2013 1:21:50 PM

his blog:

Quote :

"Julius Randle is the top-ranked prospect in the Rivals150 for 2013 and recently cut his list down to six – Texas, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina State, Florida and Oklahoma. Randle, a forward at Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas), has agreed to give USA TODAY High School Sports exclusive access into his world by chronicling everything from intimate details about his recruitment to his everyday life in a monthly blog. What’s up everybody! I’m back from my big visit to N.C. State, and I can definitely say that I had a great time down there with the Wolfpack. My man Coach (Orlando) Early picked me up from the airport late Thursday night and me and my mom just went back to the hotel and got some sleep. That next morning they came and picked us up and we were hanging out and I saw someone had tweeted me a picture of this big wall painting they did on me. It was crazy so I told my boy Rod (Purvis) that he had to take me there to see that. We went over there and I took a picture beside it. I had to. That’s definitely the craziest thing a fan has ever done for me. I loved it. After that, I went and met with the athletics director (Debbie Yow) and she was real cool. I liked her. Then we went and watched the practice and after that I went with Rodney to some pizza place. There were a lot of students there, so that was cool to get the chance to interact with them. They were saying stuff like I had to come to N.C. State and they were making deals with me, like, if State beat UNC the next day, then I’d have to commit on the spot. They were all real cool. I saw the young boy Damon Harge working out while I was down there too. Man that dude is nice! He does not miss! That cat was shooting like 80 percent from 3-point range. He’s crazy now, but when he gets some more height, I’m telling y’all it’s a wrap. That night we were gonna have dinner with the coaches, but the roads were real bad with ice and stuff so I just went back to Rodney’s room and we just hung out there. That next morning Coach Early came by and picked me up and took me over to see College GameDay. When I walked in the whole student section went just crazy. I mean, it was really loud. I’m not the kind of guy that cares too much for attention, so I was really caught off guard by it. It was the loudest chant I’ve ever heard. The chant during the game wasn’t too loud because I think the fans were worn out from the chant from earlier. MORE: Inside Randle's in-home visits MORE: Randle on his injury and the McDonal's All-American Game I didn’t know what to do. I was so shocked at how loud it was so Coach (Mark) Gottfried pushed my hand up and helped me wave to the crowd. It was pretty funny. I had a good time at College GameDay. I met Jalen Rose and all of them. So that was cool. We went and had lunch after that and of course the coaches gave my mom some red velvet cake. Every coach knows that’s her favorite, so I thought it was cool that they had a different red velvet cake every day that she was there. That night we went to the arena and I was chilling with Cat Barber before the game, so that was cool too. That game was so live though. They kinda scared me a little bit at the end because UNC was coming back, but my prediction ended up being right. It was so loud in there. After the game we went to Cookout and hung out. There were a lot of fans out so it was pretty live all night. We had a good time. MORE: Recruits say there's no substitute for watching games WATCH: High school basketball marriage proposal That next morning we had breakfast with the coaches and I talked more one-on-one with Coach Gottfried a little. I like him even more after this visit. He’s a really genuine person. The whole team really seems like a family. They’re all like brothers and that’s something I really liked about them. I think the biggest thing I learned over the weekend was that if I came there they wouldn’t have to change anything about their system for me. It just fits me. Other coaches talk about what they’ll change for me, but with State they don’t have to do that. That’s big. All in all, I’d have to say that this was my best visit so far. I had a ball at Kentucky, and yeah they had Drake and everything, but this visit just had a lot more going on. State definitely set the bar high on the visits. My next two visits are to Texas and Kansas, so I’m really looking forward to those. Kansas will have College GameDay there too, so I know that will be crazy. Well, other than that, my rehab is going really well. Basically, right now I’m still just lifting and doing spot shooting. I actually go to the doctor on Monday and I’m hoping to hear some good news. To be honest, every time I go to the doctor I expect the worst because anything other than him saying “you can play” is a letdown. I just really want to play man! But you guys definitely send some prayers up for me because I’m feeling really good. I’m not gonna rush back, but I’m feeling pretty good so we’ll see what he says Monday. OK guys, I’ve gotta head out, but, as always, I appreciate you reading my blog and I know you guys will be checking back in with me in the next few weeks after my Kansas and Texas visits. Take care y’all!"

MUST

NOT

GET

EXCITED

1/31/2013 1:23:21 PM

!=

1/31/2013 1:37:23 PM

pretty live

1/31/2013 1:44:42 PM

who is damon harge?

1/31/2013 2:01:08 PM

Quote :

"After the game we went to Cookout and hung out."

1/31/2013 2:03:04 PM

it also just struck me how similar recruiting and fraternity rush are

1/31/2013 2:06:00 PM

That Cook Out visit will seal it

1/31/2013 2:07:03 PM

Quote :

"who is damon harge?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL1XSWs3EoE

1/31/2013 2:10:49 PM

Cookout is our recruiting ace in the hole.

If they had taken him to bojangles to get a CJL also he would have cancelled the rest of his visits on the spot.

1/31/2013 2:11:52 PM

Quote :

"We went and had lunch after that and of course the coaches gave my mom some red velvet cake. Every coach knows that’s her favorite, so I thought it was cool that they had a different red velvet cake every day that she was there. "

1/31/2013 2:20:49 PM

^Diabetes

1/31/2013 2:22:24 PM

Quote :

"it also just struck me how similar recruiting and fraternity rush are"

applying to phdschool was shockingly similar as well.

1/31/2013 7:34:20 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnhoQFm7Qdc

is this kid leaning state? seriously.

2/1/2013 12:22:07 AM

motherfucker has his own webpage

http://www.damonhargejr.com

2/1/2013 12:47:02 AM

Man, he's developing some bad habits with that shooting motion. I wonder if that might effect his shot as he grows into his body. I almost feel like there shouldn't even be a 3-point line for kids under 12 cause there's that temptation to go out there and heave the ball before you have enough strength to get it there with a natural shooting motion. You can't stop em from tryin though, as long as the shot works, it really doesn't matter (i.e. Shawn Marion)

The kid is very talented though and has definitely been puttin in some hard work at such an early age to try and maximize his potential. He can be real special if he keeps at it. I believe John Wall has kinda taken him under his wing and he's always there in the Dail Center workin out. He actually played on varsity as a 6th grader with Torian Graham while he was at Christian Faith Center Academy too.

2/1/2013 1:58:55 AM

holy damn that kid is filthy

dude

2/1/2013 8:18:52 AM

I was thinking the same thing as far as shooting. Having developed a great shot at that age becomes pointless at some point and he will have to relearn everything again. Obviously getting the great handles will carry over somewhat. The other thing I always think of when I see videos of such young kids is you have no idea what sorta height they are gonna end up at. He could end up only being 5'0 tall ya never know.

2/1/2013 8:44:46 AM

I'm sure this is a common dilemma for college coaches. You never know how a kid may turn out, but at least we are establishing a connection early.

2/1/2013 9:07:17 AM

Oh it definitely doesnt hurt to start connections. It is more about when I see fans getting excited that in 5 years we will have some kid coming in possibly who is awesome. Awesome in 6th grade doesnt mean awesome as a senior. It's kinda like a kid might be a great singer.. then they hit puberty and thats the end of that.

2/1/2013 9:10:53 AM

werent we big on Rodney Purvis really early on too? I feel like we heard about him when he was still in middle school

2/1/2013 9:12:52 AM

Harge's shot could develop into a Scott Wood style shot...really quick release and efficient...as he gets older and stronger he can get it more above his head which shouldn't be a problem...but I like the way he's squared to the basket when he shoots.

2/1/2013 9:21:50 AM

I hear he hits the gym every day so he can be the next Scott Wood

2/1/2013 9:27:09 AM

Quote :

"Awesome in 6th grade doesnt mean awesome as a senior. It's kinda like a kid might be a great singer.. then they hit puberty and thats the end of that."

Not even remotely comparable situations.

Quote :

"He could end up only being 5'0 tall ya never know."

He's already 5' 4"...but who cares about facts when posting ignorant negative blather is way more fun.

2/1/2013 9:30:37 AM

Seriously guys, let's stop talking about the 7th grader.

2/1/2013 9:32:26 AM

There have been plenty of players that were top 10 players in 8th/9th grade and ended up ranked closer to 60-70 range by the time they're a senior. I think you can definitely identify potential top targets early, but you can't really predict how their game will grow as they grow and exactly how they'll fill out. Kid has a ton of upside and it's a good sign he's already working on it at our gyms, but we'll see how he turns out, hope the best for the kid and hopefully he'll keep the home-team in consideration, haha.

2/1/2013 9:50:57 AM

My comments weren't about this kid specifically but just the speculation on middle school kids in general.

2/1/2013 9:51:27 AM

Blathering blatherskite

/Gizmoduck assemble

2/1/2013 10:50:29 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=NL1XSWs3EoE&feature=endscreen

this young man has handles for DAYS

if he continues this as he gets older/faces better competition, you don't have to worry about how he shoots the fucking ball

2/1/2013 11:12:32 AM

a 7th grader with a mixtape....holy geeze...come on

2/1/2013 11:26:30 AM

Quote :

"My comments weren't about this kid specifically but just the speculation on middle school kids in general."

Hockey players are scouted heavily from age 11-12, first drafted at 14 1/2, then play full pro-length seasons until they're drafted into the NHL at 17 1/2. Why should basketball players be any different?

2/1/2013 11:46:11 AM

because hockey players dont have to be ridiculously tall with a 40 inch vertical jump.

2/1/2013 11:47:57 AM

He's already playing against older competition, mostly all in high school, so either way, it's impressive.

And his shooting motion really isn't bad, you just generally don't want to do too much too soon when you're that young. Everyone's not the same though. I'm sure he'll impove on it even more as he grows stronger.

2/1/2013 11:55:33 AM

Is it weird to have a recruiting boner for a 7th grader? I don't have one, I'm just asking.

2/1/2013 11:56:32 AM

NyM gets boners for 7th graders all the time, so its really no big deal.

2/1/2013 12:01:22 PM

Yeah he is definitely impressive for his age. I guess above someone said he is 5'4". Maybe those videos are old and I guess he is playing with older kids but that looks like a big stretch or half those kids he is playing with are over 6' tall. I remember when I was that age I shot pretty much the same way (not nearly as effective) because thats about the only way you have the strength to get the ball that far. As soon as I hit high school I had to completely change to the overhead type of shot otherwise well like 60% get blocked if anyone is close to you. A 6'5 guy would block it with his face haha. Granted this kid is better now than I ever was and it appears he knows how to play despite being small so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

2/1/2013 12:33:23 PM

Harge has nothing on this diaper dandy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmMbm78sEB4&feature=player_embedded

2/9/2013 1:58:21 AM