by LARRY VAUGHT
There might not have been a better compliment Kentucky coach Mark Pope could have given James Madison transfer Justin McBride than when he said he could see “shades” of former UK standout Julius Randle in McBride.
Randle played for the Wildcats in 2013-14 and got UK to the national title game. He was a top 10 NBA draft pick and is a three-time all-star who was recently traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
McBride is from Plano, Texas, while Randle is from Dallas.
“Julius Randle is one of my guys I know that I’m really close with back in Dallas,” McBride said. “I talk to him a lot, train with him back in the summer, too. It’s just a dream (for Pope) to pick a guy like that, that plays kind of my style of play. I’m excited to prove to the people that I can really play at a SEC level.”
McBride was a sixth grader the first time he met Randle, who was playing at Prestonwood Christian. McBride has worked out with Randle and also sought advice from him.
“He told me a lot of good things. He had a great, successful career here (at Kentucky). But just to play with confidence. Don’t worry about all the lights and stuff like that. Just play basketball,” McBride said. “We’ve been playing all our lives, so just play. There’s nothing different than just putting the ball in the basket and just playing for my teammates and winning.”
