Recruiting blog: Chasson Randle

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With four recruits already signed for the Class of 2009 and three more with solid verbal commitments from the Class of 2010, the Illinois coaching staff has been able to spend a lot of their recruiting attention on the highly touted Class of 2011. One of the Illini's main targets has been Rock Island's Chasson Randle.

The 6-foot-2 guard has already received offers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State and Bradley. Other schools showing interest include Wisconsin, Florida, Kansas and Purdue. Randle's AAU coach, Mike Mullins of the Illinois Wolves, expects the sophomore to continue to impress as he improves.

"I think there's guys you walk in the gym and they look the part. Then the game starts and they don't necessarily produce the way they look," Mullins said. "Chasson's a kid that's done both, and he's done it playing three or four years up at a very young age. He's very gifted athletically. He's long, very, very quick, great first step, plays well with both hands. He has really improved his shooting in this last year."

Randle spent the summer playing against players one to two years older, something Mullins said made him a better and more confident player.

"He's going to be a four-year varsity player at a very strong high school program with excellent coaching," Mullins said. "And he's played his best against the best people. Chasson's played against three different age groups for us last year.

"He did more than hold his own. He flourished in that, and I think that's what has made him such an attractive prospect for all the schools that were excited after seeing his performances throughout the spring and summer."

Randle has handled the recruiting process like a mature adult, probably because of the strong people around him, Mullins said.

"He's got very, very strong family background with his mom and dad," Mullins said. "They've kept him very much grounded. I think he's excited about it. Chasson doesn't appear to let things get to his head and realizes he has a lot of work to do to get to where he wants to go. I think the combination of the staff at Rock Island, his family and what we try to do within the Wolves organization in regards to recruiting is trying to keep everyone looking up to the stars but trying to keep their feet on the ground."

Randle has led Rock Island to a 3-1 start this season. The Rocks narrowly defeated Sterling and Illinois signee Joseph Bertrand on Dec. 6. Randle scored 15 points, while Illinois Wolves alumnus Bertrand finished with 19. No word though on whether Bertrand helped the Illini by pitching the Illinois program to the highly touted sophomore from Rock Island.

Another Illinois commit will have the chance to give the recruiting pitch to Randle on Saturday, as Rock Island will travel to the Assembly Hall to play Waukegan and Class of 2010 commit Jereme Richmond in the Shootout at the Hall at 3:45 p.m.

"(Randle) has had tremendous visits down to Illinois," Mullins said. "I know he wants to get down there, but in late summer/fall here his family has been juggling one home and moving into a home they were building in Rock Island. It's prevented him from being on the road a lot. He knows some of the players down there. And obviously we have Demetri (McCamey) down there who's an ambassador for the (Illinois Wolves) program. Joe Bertrand, who played for us, committed there.

"The staff's treated (Randle) well, and he's been excited about their interest in him."

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