UK forward Julius Randle meets with the media to announce his intentions to enter the 2014 NBA draft Tuesday April 22 2014 in Memorial Coliseum in Lexington. By Jonathan Palmer Special to the CJ (Photo Jonathan Palmer)
For a guy once projected as a top three NBA draft pick former University of Kentucky star Julius Randle could not have been happier to slide to No. 7 overall on Thursday night. That's because the 16 time champion Los Angeles Lakers picked him and will pair him with future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant.
Randle and his family erupted in the green room at the Barclays Center when the pick was announced. He grinned wide as he put on a Lakers hat and practically floated out of his introductory press conference. Kentucky coach John Calipari also pumped his fist.
That's where he wanted me to be so it's pretty cool to be there now Randle said giggling. If I could pick anywhere this is where I wanted to be. No better organization so what more can I ask I pretty much knew if I fell to L.A. that I was going to be going there. They were completely surprised that I was there at seven.
UK classmate James Young had to wait 10 spots beyond that before the Boston Celtics chose him. He was actually their second pick they took Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart at No.6.
Last SlideNext SlideRandle was a big hit in his first professional press conference which bodes well as he heads to one of the biggest media markets in the world.
Randle said he would've happily gone where God wanted me to be but happily it's in L.A.
Kentucky's 11th one and done player in five years under Calipari Randle became the 18th draft pick 14th first rounder and eighth top 10 selection in that span. A 6 foot 9 250 pound power forward from Dallas Texas Randle led the Wildcats to their 16th Final Four and 12th NCAA title game in his only season at Kentucky.
He averaged 15 points and 10.4 rebounds and led the nation with 24 double doubles. The Cats' fiery leader he'll now join the NBA's fieriest leader in Bryant known as a demanding teammate.
I demand a lot from my teammates as well. Holding each other accountable putting extra work in was what I had to do at Kentucky. It was what I demanded of my teammates and that's what we did and that's why we were successful Randle said. (Bryant) may get tired of me because I'm going to be bugging him trying to learn stuff from him. I'm going to learn a lot from him.
Kentucky's other top 10 picks under Calipari are No. 1 John Wall (2010) No. 1 Anthony Davis (2012) No. 2 Michael Kidd Gilchrist (2012) No. 3 Enes Kanter (2011) No. 5 DeMarcus Cousins (2010) No. 6 Nerlens Noel (2013) and No. 8 Brandon Knight (2011).
Calipari told The Courier Journal he thinks Randle could be somebody's third best player second best player best player over a period of time.
Randle's mother Carolyn Kyles was there with Randle wearing the designer dress he bought her. She raised Randle as a single mother. She had so much to say but so few words after he was drafted.
We're just ecstatic Randle said. She couldn't really say anything. She was just screaming.
He believes the experience of playing for the Cats prepared him for Los Angeles.
Kentucky's basketball is the only thing Kentucky knows Randle said. When you have a place that sells out 24 000 a game name another place that does that. L.A. what do they care about They don't have a football team. When you think of L.A. you think of the Lakers.
And now when Randle thinks about it he thinks about home.
Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) 582 4361. Follow him on Twitter KyleTucker_CJ.
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