The Dallas area is about to get a taste of the madness that is high-level college basketball recruiting.
While the Metroplex annually produces high-level D1 prospects like LeBryan Nash (Lincoln / Oklahoma State) and Perry Jones III (Duncanville / Baylor / Oklahoma City Thunder), neither player was considered on the level of Julius Randle, the class of 2013 forward from Prestonwood Christian.
NBA scouts are already very familiar with Randle's name, and were it not for the league's age restrictions, he would likely have forgone college altogether. A skilled and athletic 6'9 240 combo forward, Randle is considered by most to be in the same class as Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker in terms of the best amateur basketball players in the world.
His recruiting list reads like the who's who of college basketball -- Kentucky, UNC, Duke, Kansas -- but the local schools -- Texas, Baylor, SMU -- are still hanging around as well.
Last year, Shabazz Muhammed (who eventually wound up at UCLA) dragged his recruitment well into the spring and summer. That could happen in 2013 with Randle, which means John Calipari, Coach K, Roy Williams et. al might be frequent flyers to DFW.
A highlight tape of Randle on the AAU circuit. Judge at your own peril:
For more coverage of the recruitment of Randle and the other top players from the Dallas area, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas StoryStream.