Posted: 7/1/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Wesley Fane Illinois' Brian Randle maneuvers around Wisconsin's Marcus Landry during the first half of the game at Assembly Hall on February 21. Despite not being drafted last week, Randle will try to realize his NBA dream during summer league tryouts.

Brian Randle didn't have high expectations during the NBA Draft last Thursday. The former Illini forward hoped he would hear his name called, so he watched the draft with roommate and former Kansas guard Russell Robinson in Houston, where the two were training. But deep down, Randle knew his name would not be uttered on ESPN that night. Just like his Illini career, Randle anticipated he had a bumpier road to travel to get to the NBA.

"At first, I really didn't expect to be drafted," Randle said. "It was more or less something to keep my hopes up for. Obviously the season I had personally wasn't one I wanted, and the team, we had had some ups and downs, even though we had a strong finish. It was just kind of one of those things that I hope for, but at the same time, I had realistic expectations."

That reality hasn't been what most envisioned for Randle when he came to Champaign-Urbana as a consensus top-50 recruit out of Peoria Notre Dame High School. Although Randle oozed athleticism and intelligence, his career at Illinois had an unsatisfying tone. The finished product was never seen, derailed by a rash of injuries.

Randle's career started promising enough as he started nine of 32 games as a freshman during the 2003-04 season. He displayed the athleticism that had been hyped as a recruit, appearing on ESPN's Top 10 plays twice for spectacular dunks.

Then came the memorable run to the NCAA championship game during the 2004-05 season. But Randle was forced to watch it from the bench with a cast over his left hand.

In a preseason November practice, a frustrated Randle punched a wall at practice, breaking his left hand. It was the first major injury of Randle's career. Before that, he had never been one to be called fragile.

All seemed to be back on track after a successful redshirt sophomore year. Randle was one of three co-captains, along with seniors James Augustine and Dee Brown during the 2005-06 season. Randle started 32 of 33 games, averaged 8.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and was named to the All-Big Ten Defensive team.

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