Reigning NBL MVP comes to the Harbour City - Randle now a King - Sydney Kings

9 Nov 2017 12:36 PM

SYDNEY KINGS MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Reigning NBL MVP comes to the Harbour City – Randle now a King

Thursday 9 November 2017

 

In what ranks as one of the biggest coups in franchise history, the Sydney Kings are thrilled to announce that import guard Jerome Randle has been signed for the remainder of the 2017/2018 National Basketball League season.

The club wasted no time in reaching out to the 2016/2017 NBL Most Valuable Player after he recently concluded a stint with Turkish club Bahcesehir.

The organisation is confident that the dynamic, high-scoring guard known as ‘The Handle’ will bolster the team greatly as it looks to get back on track after a sluggish start to the season.

Kings Managing Director Jeff Van Groningen is confident that Randle brings something new to the team and organisation. “We welcome Jerome Randle to the Kings and look forward to seeing him in action at Qudos Bank Arena this season. Jerome possesses an explosive game and is a gifted ball-handler and scorer. He is also an incredibly well-known in this league after an amazing MVP season last year. Kings fans will embrace him, and he will embrace them, I have no doubt at all”, Mr Van Groningen stated.

Randle had a season to remember with the Adelaide 36ers in 2016/2017. He topped the league in scoring and was third in assists as he led the Sixers to a first-place 17-11 record in the regular season, averaging 21.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.0 steals over 31 games. For his efforts he became just the second Adelaide player ever to be named NBL Most Valuable Player, adding an All-NBL First Team nod and the NBL Fans’ MVP to his bulging trophy case.

He burst on to the NBL scene in 2015 with Adelaide, coming in as an injury replacement and immediately lighting up the competition with his speed, flair and undoubted offensive ability. From day one he has been a human highlight reel and fans should be excited to see him do his thing on the Qudos Bank Arena floor.

Randle’s addition is history-making for the organisation. Once Kevin Lisch returns from injury, the Kings will boast the previous two NBL MVPs in their starting backcourt – something never before seen in the annals of the NBL.

A graduate of the University of Cal-Berkeley in the powerful Pac-10 conference in the United States, Randle had an outstanding college career. He was a three-year starter for the Golden Bears, a two-time First Team All-Conference selection, and the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2010. Such was his impact, he was named to the Pac-12 Hall of Fame in January 2017.

Randle also boasts vast international experience. He has played in high-level competitions in France, Lithuania, Israel, Belgium, the Ukraine and Turkey, and won the Lithuanian national league championship in 2016, earning Finals MVP in the process. He has a Ukrainian passport and played for his adopted country at Eurobasket in 2015.

An explosive scorer with great vision and a strong work ethic, Randle joins a remarkable crop of guards in the National Basketball League and Sydney Kings Head Coach Andrew Gaze is thrilled to have him on board.

Randle’s addition means that the short-term contract of fill-in import Jeremy Kendle will be come to an end. Kendle will remain with the Kings this weekend in Melbourne. The club thanks Jeremy for his efforts and professionalism and is confident he’ll be seen again in the league at a later stage.

Randle is expected to suit up for the Kings in Round Seven when the team embarks on a tough road double-header. He may debut as soon as the Kings game against the Illawarra Hawks next Thursday, November 16^th.

The game between Adelaide 36rs and the Sydney Kings on Saturday, November 18^th at Titanium Security Arena now looms large on the NBL calendar.

 

JEROME RANDLE BIO

Born: May 21, 1987

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois

Age: 30

Height: 175cm (5’9”)

Weight: 77kg (170lb)

Position: Point Guard

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

NBL Most Valuable Player (2017)

2× All-NBL First Team (2016, 2017)

NBL Leading Scorer (2017)

Lithuanian League champion (2016)

Lithuanian League Finals MVP (2016)

Turkish League All-Star (2011)

Pac-10 Player of the Year (2010)

2× First-team All-Pac-10 (2009, 2010)

Pac-12 Hall of Fame (2017)

 

CAREER HISTORY

High school:    Hales Franciscan (Chicago, Illinois)

College:                       University of California-Berkeley             2006–2010

Professional:    Aliağa Petkim (Turkey)               2010-2011

Türk Telekom (Turkey)                2011

Barak Netanya (Israel)                2011

Texas Legends (NBA G-League) 2011

Maine Red Claws (NBA G-League)          2011-2012

BC Azovmash (Ukraine)             2012

Spirou Charleroi (Belgium)                     2012-2013

Aliağa Petkim (Turkey)               2013-2014

Trabzonspor (Turkey)                 2014

Eskişehir Basket (Turkey)                       2014-2015

Adelaide 36ers (NBL)                 2015-2017

Žalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)                     2016

Limoges CSP (France)               2017

Bahcesehir (Turkey)                   2017

 

For anything additional please contact

Sydney Kings Front Office

+61 2  8765 4478

[email protected]

 

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