Julius Randle
College: Kentucky
Age: 19 years old
Height: 6’9″
Weight: 250 lbs.
Position: Power Forward
NBA Comparison: David Lee
Easily one of the most polarizing NBA prospects in this year’s draft class, Kentucky power forward Julius Randle shined in his first and only year in college, averaging 15 points and more than 10 rebounds per contest. While he started the season highly regarded as the best power forward in the country, much of his hype seemingly died down after Kentucky struggled during the regular season, despite his solid performance. Nonetheless, Randle was the star of this Kentucky team, and proved his value in the NCAA Tournament.
While he is still very limited in many aspects of his game, Randle is still perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft, and is locked-in as a top-10 pick.
Strengths:
At 6’9″ and 250 lbs., Julius Randle has great size for a power forward, and tremendous upper-body strength that is not often seen. Finishes well at the rim, even through contact. His reliable mid-range jump shot also makes him very dangerous in pick and roll situations. He is an excellent rebounder on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. While he lacks elite Blake Griffin-like athleticism and explosiveness, he makes up for it with his strong frame when going up with the ball. Good defender, and his strength also allows him to defend taller opponents in the post. Known as a hard worker who gives everything in-game and practice, Randle appears to have the right attitude and coach-ability to continue to improve. Despite being only 19 years old, his unique combination of power and offensive skills give him the ability to play big minutes and make an impact on an NBA team immediately.
Weaknesses:
Some consider him slightly undersized as a power forward, as he is only 6’9″ and in not extremely long with just a 7 foot wingspan. Most of his success in college was a result of his ability to overpower weaker opponents and create easy looks. May struggle to create the same scoring opportunities against taller, more athletic PFs in the NBA. With a very inconsistent mid-range shot, and a non-existent shot from long-range, Randle will definitely need to improve his shooting in order to become a real scoring threat.
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