Julius Randle named co-MVP of Jordan Brand Classic
April 14, 2013
By Matt Overing | @KyKernelSports
The West team beat the East, 102-98, in the 12th edition of the Jordan Brand Classic on Saturday night.
Julius Randle, a UK commitment, shared co-MVP honors with Duke-bound Jabari Parker.
Randle teamed with UK signees Aaron Harrison and Andrew Harrison, as well as UK recruit Andrew Wiggins, on the losing East squad.
Parker was joined by UK signees Dakari Johnson, Marcus Lee and James Young for the West.
Johnson (eight points), Lee (six points) and Young (10 points) all played at least 13 minutes for the West.
Randle and Wiggins led all scorers with 19 points.
In the second half alone, Randle scored 15 points in nine minutes of action. He finished the night with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field and added seven rebounds and one steal in 20 total minutes of play.
Randle joins Anthony Davis (2011) as the only other UK commitment to win co-MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic since John Calipari began coaching in Lexington.
Wiggins, the only undecided player in the Jordan Brand Classic, scored 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor. He played 23 minutes.
The Harrison twins struggled to shoot in the first half, going a combined 1-of-5 from the field. They finished the night with 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field.
Andrew Harrison dished out a game-high eight assists and did not turn the ball over in 22 minutes of play.
This was the first night that the Harrison twins, Randle and Wiggins played on the same team. Randle and Wiggins played against the Harrison twins in the McDonald’s All-American game on April 3.
After the game, Randle was asked about trying to recruit Wiggins during the Jordan Brand Classic.
“I tried my best but it’s on him,” Randle said. “I wish him nothing but the best.”
Wiggins has visited Florida State, Kansas, UK and North Carolina. Out of those four, Florida State is the only school that did not have a recruit in the event.
UK already has eight commitments for the 2013 recruiting class. Six were playing in the Jordan Brand Classic on Saturday night. With Wiggins, UK would have nine freshmen on the roster in 2013-14.
