- 2 days ago
Randolph Childress joins The Junks to discuss the Wizards landing the No. 1 overall pick, preview the Draft, and break down some of Washington's options.
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00:00Say good morning to Randolph Childress, analyst for the ACC Network.
00:05Good morning, Randolph. How are you?
00:07Good morning, guys. How are you guys doing today?
00:09RC, what's up, buddy?
00:10Hey, RC.
00:11RC, why don't you join us for our 30th year anniversary show.
00:17It's a beach show, beach bash down at Dewey Beach.
00:19When was the last time you were at Dewey Beach?
00:20Yeah, what do you think?
00:22I think we should do that. If they make that happen, I can always go to the beach.
00:25There you go.
00:26Let's do it.
00:27I know you're down in Carolina. It's a little far drive.
00:29Maybe you can make it up.
00:31Hey, we can make it work. No problem.
00:33All right. Before we talk about who you think the Wizards should take,
00:37just kind of give us your take on the overall class.
00:40We've heard Jay Williams and Jay Billis and all these guys that kind of follow it for a living
00:44say it's the deepest freshman class they've ever seen.
00:48And it might be. And you may feel the same way.
00:50But just kind of give us your take on the overall prospect list for 2026.
00:57I would agree with that.
00:58I think when people go, you know, generational talent, I think it's where it gets, you know,
01:03I think it's a little stretched there.
01:05I think it's, I think we see one beyond, and I think we all would agree, like, that's generational talent.
01:11But I do agree.
01:11I think the depth of this class for freshmen in today's time, you probably, I don't know if you'll ever
01:17see again the amount of quality depth of freshmen in one class.
01:23This year was really fun for the college game.
01:25We had talked so much, as we know nationally, about how many, the veteran guys, the older guys, six, seven
01:31-year guys.
01:31And this year was refreshing and fun to see so many first-year college athletes be so dominant in their
01:38freshman year.
01:38So I don't agree.
01:39I think it's the best, and from a depth quality that it's been, I think that's a fair assessment.
01:44And then at the top, I think those two guys that the Wizards will be, you know, looking at and
01:49diving deep into their lifestyle, the Banzang Peterson, are probably the two, I think, highest rated prospects.
01:56And I would add, you know, I think Boozer would have something to say about that with his pedigree.
02:01And I wouldn't go as far as to say what a Darius Acuff couldn't become, you know, down the line
02:05as well.
02:06Well, since you're with the ACC Network, let's start with the ACC guys who you've seen probably the most.
02:13Boozer, and then I want your take on Caleb Wilson, because he seems to be rising.
02:16We had the GM of the Wizards on the show yesterday and asked him to describe him in one word,
02:22and he said, riser.
02:24Fill us in on those two guys in their games and what you can see them doing in the NBA.
02:28I think everybody kind of says the same assessment of Cam, because, you know, it's athletically his way.
02:34He's not an above-the-rim guy.
02:37He's limited assets, not a great shooter.
02:39He's just a winner.
02:40I mean, he just wins.
02:42He's a constant professional that shows up, does his job, and he's getting better.
02:47Caleb Wilson is the one that everybody's concerned about, because he has what you can't do.
02:51Coming in day one, you know, 6'11", with his athleticism, defend every position on the floor, really good passer.
03:00The only thing on his game, I think, is, again, he's improved.
03:03He needs to improve on his three-point shooting.
03:05I mean, his shot mechanics look good.
03:07I think he's coming up the draft board, and again, he wouldn't be a guy.
03:10He'd be a guy, I think, that, you know, they would look at for that spot.
03:14The only reason why I would say differently is just because of where, you know, we're looking at the franchise
03:18and already having Anthony Davis on board.
03:22But it's really hard to turn down that talent.
03:24I think everybody's just talking right now.
03:26I still can't see them looking much further than A.J. DeBanzer with that pick, to be honest.
03:30So you like DeBanzer better than all of the other guys.
03:33You like him better than Darren Peterson.
03:36I do.
03:37I don't know how you pass him down.
03:39I mean, you're going back to a couple years.
03:40Anyone has watched these guys when they were in high school, it was he and Cooper Flagg.
03:44And at some point in time, people were wondering if he was even better than Cooper Flagg.
03:48I thought Cooper was always a better defender when they were younger, probably a little bit more competitive.
03:53But A.J.'s been preparing for this moment for the last couple of years.
03:56There's been no secret that he's been, that he probably would be the number one pick, no matter who had
04:02that pick.
04:02And I think his game, what he's done last year in college basketball, you know, led the nation in scoring.
04:08I don't think he's done anything to drop in the NBA draft.
04:11I think the Peterson situation was just mishandled by everyone.
04:16I think the information that they're coming out with now should have been out.
04:20I think people would feel a lot more positive about his story had they come out and said the things
04:26that have happened.
04:26Him being hospitalized with the dehydration and creatine, all those type of things.
04:30But, man, I don't know how you, with the makeup of the Wizards team right now, I don't know.
04:35How do you not take A.J. DeBonsa with it?
04:38And, Randolph, I think one of the attractive things about DeBonsa, too, is that he's not afraid of a challenge.
04:44Because coming out of school, he could have gone to any of the Blue Blood programs.
04:48They would have paid him around the same amount BYU was going to pay him.
04:51But he wanted to undertake the challenge of trying to bring BYU to these crazy heights that they've never gotten
04:58to before.
04:59So it shows you that even as a young kid, he's not afraid to take on something that's going to
05:03be put in front of him
05:04as far as, like, challenging himself and his teammates going forward.
05:09That's a good thing in the situation where he's going to right now.
05:12I mean, you guys are there.
05:14It's home for me.
05:14I think we're all starving for the Washington Wizards to be relevant again.
05:18And having it on a draft pick a couple years ago with Sarge, the second pick in the draft,
05:24and he started developing, coming around, you've made the changes.
05:27And now you are already excited with Trey Young and Anthony Davis coming on board.
05:32And now having them healthy to start next year, you had the number one pick in a potential talent like
05:37this.
05:38I think it's fair to say that everyone should have playoff expectations for the Washington Wizards.
05:43And also, I think this pick kind of sets you going forward with it.
05:47Eshawn, George, and some of the other young pieces you have for the foreseeable future.
05:51And sometimes you need luck like this.
05:53You know, you need luck to get to a number one pick like this in a year where a player
05:59is worthy of it.
05:59I just think he's the most worthy of the number one pick.
06:02He just has to make up the game to back that up.
06:05And I'd be surprised if it's anyone else.
06:08All right, RC, let me get back to Peterson for a second.
06:10So, you know, he missed 12 games and he left a lot of those games early and played 18, 20
06:16minutes.
06:17When they played BYU, he only played 20 minutes.
06:19He had 18 points in 20 minutes.
06:21But he did leave the game early.
06:23If he didn't have those issues, if he didn't have the cramping issues at all,
06:27and he played a full season, you know, he was playing 35 to 38 minutes,
06:31would you have Peterson as the number one over DeBonsa,
06:35or do you still think A.J. is one?
06:40I still think you have to do your homework and do your due diligence now.
06:43I think those are the top two prospects in this draft.
06:46Everyone talks about the depth and that's great, but it's Darren Peterson.
06:51I've said this before.
06:51I don't think we know how – we have all – most of us have seen him.
06:55A lot of us, I should say, have seen him when he was in high school coming along.
06:59Dan Boozer was the most dominant player.
07:02I thought he was the best player when I saw them coming out of high school, you know, just as
07:06talented.
07:07He wasn't surrounded by as much talent as the Boozer twins was.
07:11But I think he's a big-time talent, can score from anywhere on the floor.
07:15We just don't know how good he's going to be because of all the issues.
07:19And, again, I think Kansas and his inner circle and everybody just handled it poorly.
07:24And I try to be sympathetic to it because I think when you're trying to get this close
07:29and you know you've got a sure thing in a lottery pick and a potential number one pick
07:33or number two pick in a draft, you're relying on so much information and you're trying to protect him.
07:40From his representation in Kansas, I think everyone can look back on this and say,
07:44we just didn't do right by him in helping him.
07:48You're right.
07:49I mean, to find out, I mean, he was hospitalized once before.
07:53I think they just was trying to get to this point.
07:55I think when the NBA teams, he leaves the combines and everyone feels comfortable with it,
08:00he checks the box mentally.
08:02I think he can be an all-star caliber guard.
08:04I think he's that good.
08:05I mean, he can create a shot and the Wizards should be looking at him hard
08:08because I think, again, he's someone you can put the ball in his hands.
08:11He can be a secondary playmaker.
08:13You can push Trey Young off the ball.
08:16He is that talented.
08:18If you feel some people are not as high on him,
08:21I think if he checks the box mentally, you have to look at him.
08:24And I think he's a strong consideration for one.
08:28But I still think I would say the early favorite would be A.J. Devon.
08:31But I am a personal fan of Darren Peterson.
08:33I think he's that talented.
08:35What do you make of Will Dawkins, the GM, saying that this isn't a Wemby draft?
08:41This isn't a draft where there's a clear-cut one.
08:45And that Michael Winger immediately, reportedly, after they win the first selection,
08:51he says, we're open for business.
08:53To me, that kind of does reinforce the point that they would be happy.
08:58And he said on our show, they would be happy with any one, two,
09:01or three of those guys at the very top.
09:05But you know what?
09:06When it gets to this point in the year, all due respect to all those guys,
09:10nobody's sitting here telling you what they're thinking and what they're not.
09:13Everybody's open, quote-unquote, for business,
09:15but it's highly unlikely that they would do anything.
09:17It's like they'll talk all year long now, and no one wants to show their hand.
09:21And you're right, this isn't a year where there's a Wemby,
09:23but there's some really good players.
09:25For sure.
09:26They're all very good.
09:27They're not going to go.
09:28They're all very good.
09:29I think the upside of those two guys are different than everyone else,
09:33including Caleb Wilson.
09:34And after that, there's going to be a run on the point guards.
09:38And there's going to be a run on, is it Keaton Wago?
09:41What are you going to do?
09:42We can take that.
09:43Are there going to be Darius Acuff?
09:45Is it going to be Kingston Fleming?
09:47Is it going to be Mikel Brown, Jr.?
09:50So you're going to see a run on guys like that on guards.
09:53And that's why I don't think it's as many.
09:55I don't see them taking one of those guys with the number one pick.
09:58So front office-wise, again, when you're at the top, you have to say this.
10:02When you're sitting there going, it's almost like everybody becomes Jerry Jones
10:07at that point of year when it comes management-wise with front office.
10:10I don't expect them to show their hand.
10:12They're not going to do that, and understandably so.
10:15But, again, those are the two players I think that they'll take.
10:19They probably could be happy with either one.
10:22And I think that's why you say, hey, we can move back.
10:24And, again, if you have to take a Cam Boozer or a Caleb Foster,
10:28you're not settling.
10:30Those are really fine of the players.
10:32So I think after that, after those four picks,
10:35and I'd be surprised if anyone goes ahead of those four,
10:38things get interesting at the fifth pick right now.
10:41And that's where it starts with the Clippers.
10:43Like, do they keep the pick?
10:44Do they trade it?
10:45And what do they look like?
10:46Because, again, and I said this before,
10:48I think the measurables of all those guards dictates who goes first.
10:53Because I want to know what's the size of these guys.
10:56Is Keaton Waga, is he really 6'6"?
10:58You know, Darius Acuff, what's his size like?
11:01You know, is he listed as 6'3"?
11:04Is he 6'1"?
11:05Really?
11:05Like, that's why I say, coming out of Chicago,
11:07we get the measurables of these guys.
11:09That's going to project a long way the way teams perceive them to be.
11:13And that's why coming out, you know,
11:15the combine is so important this year.
11:16It's going to be measurable for certain guys,
11:18and for a guy like Darren Peaks,
11:20and you want to get your medical staff on him
11:22to see if you can be confident
11:24about where you project him to be long-term.
11:27Randolph, thanks for the time, man.
11:29We appreciate the insight.
11:30RC, enjoy the week, buddy.
11:32Thank you, pal, man.
11:33Have a good one.
11:33Yep, you too.
11:34Hey, I'm taking you guys up on the beach, man.
11:35Let me know.
11:36I'm ready now.
11:37I'm bringing my flimshops and my golf gloves.
11:38All right, I think you're talking a lot of smack,
11:40but I will.
11:41I'll let you know.
11:42Call us bluff.
11:42Call us bluff.
11:43Don't forget your speedo.
11:44All right.
11:46Thanks, Randolph.
11:46Thank you, guys.
11:47Randolph Childress from the ACC Network.
11:49When we come back,
11:50we'll be joined by our pal from the Caps
11:52from back in the day, Brooks Like.
11:54He's going to join us next here on The Junks.
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