In a bit of recruiting news, check out this bizarre recruiting story on Kyle Randall (No. 12 pictured above), a 6'0" point guard from Kennedy Catholic High School in Hermitage, Pa.According to Scout.com, at various points throughout the recruiting process, Randall held scholarship offers to Stanford, Cleveland State, Bucknell, George Mason, Kent State, La Salle, and Wyoming. Randall's father explained to the Albany Times Union this week that his son orally committed to Stanford last year, but those plans fell through after head coach Trent Johnson and his staff left for Louisiana State. Randall was then subsequently turned down by Stanford’s admissions department, presumably because the new coaching staff led by Johnny Dawkins did not endorse his application for admission.
According to published reports, in a revamped recruiting landscape for Randall, Cleveland State and Harvard continue to keep their offers on the table. Additionally, the Albany Times Union reports that U. Albany and UNC-Greensboro have also recently offered scholarships. Randall is scheduled to visit UNCG, coached by former Cornell Head Coach Mike Dement, this weekend and could potentially commit during his visit.
Having already visited Stanford and Harvard, Randall is permitted two additional visits per NCAA rules after the UNCG trip, should he choose to use them.
Now for a little interesting twist in the story. According to published reports, Stanford opted to initially offer a scholarship to Randall last year instead of offering Brandyn Curry, a 6'1" point guard from Hopewell High School in Huntersville, N.C. When Stanford and Trent Johnson made the decision to go with Randall, Curry thereafter committed to his second choice, Harvard.
An excited Curry told Rivals.com during October 2008 after he committed to Harvard that Tommy Amaker made it known to him that he was their point guard of the future. Curry explained:
Well, if Curry is getting the keys to Amaker's bus, then Randall is getting the keys to the team's jet plane.[Tommy Amaker] said he is going to give me the keys to the bus and he wants me to drive it. He wants me to be the best player I can be and also be the player I've always been. He loves my scoring ability but he said he knows I won't abuse the green light if it's given to me. But if I need to be a guy that sets everyone up, then I'll do that, too.
In reviewing the situation, it is inexplicable as to why Harvard would feel the need to recruit a second point in the same recruiting class. Just imagine Curry's feelings. He is turned down by Stanford because the Cardinal of the Pac 10 want Randall. So, Curry commits instead to Harvard. Now the Crimson go over Curry's head and try to add Randall to the mix.
Oh and did we mention that Harvard already has a young returning point guard in Oliver McNally, just a sophomore next season? One or more of these point guards is bound to very disappointed next year if Randall ends up in Cambridge because there is just not enough playing time to go around.
And sliding these players over to shooting guard will not help either. The Crimson received commitments from three shooting guards/small forwards during this year's recruiting cycle in Christian Webster (6-5 Bethesda MD Landon School), Kyle Casey (6-5 Chestnut Hill MA Brimmer & May School) and Dee Giger (6-5 180 Arden NC Arden Christ School). The Crimson also return sophomore Max Kenyi, a 6'3" guard/forward.
So just what is Harvard doing? Apparently making promises they cannot keep to high school seniors.
As for other options for Randall, the Albany Times Union notes that Cornell, Columbia, Coastal Carolina, and Stony Brook are also interested. He averaged 26 points and 5.5 assists per game this season for Kennedy Catholic.
“Our son happens to have the privilege of being able to be able to score the ball, but he’s one of the purest point guards still available,” Randall's father told the Albany Times Union. “He’s intriguing because he’s an Ivy League-type academic kid, but he’s a high-level point guard.”
Cornell is actively recruiting point guards to replace starter Louis Dale, a senior next season.
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