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ATLANTA — Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy watched Julius Randle play often during his prep career in Texas and tried to recruit him before Randle picked Kentucky.
That’s why he said it was no surprise to him when Randle was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year.
“I was looking at some of the other leagues and he could have been Freshman of the Year I think in any of the leagues, in my opinion,” said Kennedy Wednesday. “He's a dominating player and just what (Texas A&M guard) Alex (Caruso) talked about, playing for 40 minutes, and understanding a sense of urgency, Julius Randle understands sense of urgency. He's wired that way and that's what makes him a special player.”
Randle was the only freshman named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 21 team Wednesday. He’s now eligible for the NABC Coaches’ Division I All-America teams.
He led UK in points (477) and rebounds (324) during the regular season and shot 52 percent from the field and 72.2 percent at the foul line. Randle led the SEC with 18 double-doubles and averaged 10.5 rebounds per game going into Friday’s SEC Tournament game.
Randle put up those numbers even though teams have often crowded the inside against UK and normally double-teamed him.
“He played that way in high school. I had chance to see him quite a bit. That's how people played him his whole career, so he's ready for that,” Kennedy said. “But to do it at this level, coaches always talk about motor and high energy guys and how special of a talent that is. He's separated himself in this league of having that probably as well as anybody.”
Kennedy said it is hard to teach a player how to become “wired” like Randle is.
“Every coach that you will ask that question to is frustrated today because we have got a number of guys on our team that are wired the other way,” Kennedy said. “So it's a special gift. Playing hard and I think that's a special talent in itself and it is hard to get guys to do that on their own.
“But when have you a guy like that, he can pull people with him, and it's not all on the coach to pull them with him. And I think that's what is special about him and that as they mature, he'll be able to pull them further along, I think.”
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