Derrick Randolph Commits To WAC School As 2013 Recruit

By Roy & Harv Schmidt

Jamuary 16, 2011

1:15 P.M. CST

There is no question that Derrick Randolph has had a lot to overcome, especially in the past year.  However, it now looks as though the 5'7 point guard is starting to have good things come his way.  Those good things have culminated with Randolph verbally committing to Fresno State University and head coach Rodney Terry.  Randolph chose the Bulldogs over interest from Colorado State, Fordham and Louisiana Tech among others.

To put it bluntly, last year was a nightmare for Randolph.  For all practical purposes he did not play whatsoever at Whitney Young during the 2010-11 high school season and there was even a stretch where he wasn't even in school.  He then left Whitney Young this past spring.  Since that time Randolph has faced numerous hurdles as he has attempted to transfer to a number of different schools and battled issues surrounding eligibility.

After leaving Whitney Young, Randolph attempted to transfer to Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago.  But Randolph quickly changed his mind and it was then thought that he might end up at Hyde Park along with several other transfers who planned on playing for Lamont Bryant.  That did not work out either and Bryant has since resigned as the varsity boy's basketball coach at Hyde Park.

From there Randolph announced that he was moving to California and would enroll at LaJolla Prep.  Although things got off to a rocky start and Randolph didn't last at LaJolla, he has now grown comfortable with the West Coast surroundings and as a result has begun to turn the corner.

Randolph's big break occurred when it was learned that he would be granted an extra year of high school eligibility.  In conjunction with that several people lent helping hands in enabling Randolph to enroll at Roosevelt High School in Fresno.  Randolph is playing there now and has thus become a 2013 Fresno State commit.  The string of events with respect to Randolph being able to move to Roosevelt and reclassify as a 2013 recruit ended up being most instrumental in Fresno State and Terry being able to secure the commitment.

There is no question that when Randolph plays under control he can be extremely effective and is certainly an exciting player to watch.  Randolph has exceptional ball handling ability, has jet-like quickness and can break down defenses as well as keep opponents honest from behind the 3-point arc.

Now that he has received an additional year of eligibility at the high school level, Randolph will also compete on the traveling team circuit for the Mac Irvin Fire this coming spring and summer.

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