:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9114793/20130227_pjc_sq8_337.0.jpg)
2013 power forward Julius Randle, a five-star recruit from Plano (Tex.) Prestonwood Christian, has set an announcement date. USA Today's Jason Jordan, who has been the most connected writer to Randle's recruitment, tweeted the following last night:
Julius Randle (@j30_randle) will announce his college decision on March 20 at noon on ESPNU. Told me again he "has no clue" where he'll go.
— Jason Jordan (@JayJayUSATODAY) March 5, 2013
Randle recently wrapped up a highly successful high school career. He returned from a foot injury that sidelined him for 2 months to lead his high school team to a second consecutive state championship. Later this spring, he will participate in the Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit. Due to injury, Randle was not named to the McDonald's All-American game but may be granted a waiver to participate.
On the recruiting front, Randle is down to the following six schools: Kentucky Wildcats, Kansas Jayhawks, Texas Longhorns, Florida Gators, N.C. State Wolfpack, and Oklahoma Sooners. He has taken official visits to every school but Oklahoma.
Going into the homestretch, the recruitnik consensus is that Kentucky and Kansas lead for the talented forward. Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader published a poll on Sunday, with 3 writers picking Kansas, 2 for Kentucky, and 1 for hometown Texas.
According to Jordan, Randle has "no clue" which school he plans on picking. Reportedly, Kansas made up a lot of ground on Randle's official visit in March. The Jayhawks provide a nice blend of Big 12 proximity and national prestige, and also gives Randle a national championship caliber coach and program. Kentucky obviously offers the latter, but some recruitniks believe that Randle doesn't want to "share the spotlight" with so many other talented freshmen.
Texas has the hometown appeal. Randle has taken multiple unofficial visits to Austin, but the Longhorns' mediocre season and uncertainty going forward may knock them out of the race. Connections to Florida (head coach Billy Donovan was Randle's USA Team coach) and N.C. State (Randle is close friends with freshman point guard Rodney Purvis) may not be enough to catapult them to the top.
Whatever Randle's choice may be, a ton of fanbases will be watching with bated breath come March 20.