UNC Basketball Recruiting: Isiah Hicks and Julius Randle A Potentially Dominate Duo
By Matt Hamm
Although it may not seem like it. It’s still very early in the 2013 recruiting season. With two big time prospects already committed in power forward Isiah Hicks and point guard Nate Britt, Carolina has the #1 class in the nation thus far. Roy Williams and company are not stopping with offers out to several of the classes top players. While the perimeter has received most of the attention as of late due to the Troy Williams drama and the collective desire for a Nick King offer that has swept Tar Heel Nation. It’s the bigs that have me excited.
Isiah Hicks who committed to UNC just hours after he received his offer has improved his game dramatically since his commitment and is now ranked in the top 10 of the 2013 class. Julius Randle is ranked second to only small forward Jabari Parker, another target of the Tar Heels.
PF Julius Randle 6-9, 225 Five Star Recruit Plano, TX (Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, UNC, NC St, Ohio St, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas) Randle is a tweener right now in terms of his projected position at the next level and beyond. At 6-9, 225 you would normally pencil him in as a power forward and move on. His face up game resembles current Tar Heel James Michael McAdoo, his tweener status and three point shooting reminds me of Marvin Williams.
Roy Williams has been recruiting Randle for a long time and has a very close relationship with him. With Isiah Hicks already in the fold, Randle is the next player I see committing to Carolina. Considering the 2012 class of Brice Johnson and Joel James, a commit by Randle would likely mean the Heels interest in any other bigs cools and their attention turns to perimeter players in 2013.
Isiah Hicks PF 5 stars 6-8, 210 Oxford, NC Webb Hicks is polished on both ends of the floor, a very talented shot blocker and 1 on 1 defender. Hicks has good lateral movement and is a decent help defender for this stage in his development. Offensively he’s explosive for a big man and can get to the rim and create his own shot. His leaping ability is on par with the top athletes in the class and he can really finish at the rim. Hicks needs to sure up his post up game and develop more back to the basket moves. Is one of the top players in the nation and fits Carolinas system like a glove. He excels at running the floor and is a tremendous athlete.
Hicks is making noise all over the All-Star and post season circuit. His improved athleticism and post game have been marveled and as talented as he was this past season. Looks like he has taken his game to another level.
Matching the talents of these two players on the same team would instantly put the Tar Heels in the national championship discussion. This duo could do more than the Tyler Zeller, John Henson duo if somehow they play two years together in my view. As talented as big Z and Henson were, they had much different games than these two. Randle’s face up and jump shooting ability set him apart from the other bigs. Julius’ post game rivals Isiah’s as the best in the 2013 class in my view. Both of these players will be able to hit the court and start their first seasons in Chapel Hill.
Randle has yet to even make an official list. He says he will do so by the end of the summer and then move onto some visits before making his decision. I’ve stated before, the race for Randle is wide open as all of the top programs in the nation are giving chase. But I stand by my early season recruiting predictions, Randle will be a Tar Heel and join Hicks in the Dean Dome in 2013.