This weekend may not be fans’ last chance to see freshman forward Anthony Randolph in an LSU jersey. “I would say there’s a 90 percent chance I’m coming back here,” Randolph told The Daily Reveille on Monday. “I like it here. I like the coaching staff, the players, the fans and the whole LSU atmosphere.” But things may change if interim coach Butch Pierre does not remain LSU’s coach next season. “That would affect my decision a lot because coach Pierre is a great coach,” Randolph said. “He’s part of the reason why I came here, and he has helped me get to where I am right now with his coaching and mentoring on and off the the court.” Pierre was an assistant coach at LSU under former coach John Brady when some recent NBA prospects – Stromile Swift, Glen Davis and Tyrus Thomas – declared for the draft early. Pierre said he knew those players were going to leave. “I just knew from their body language and what they said and their whole demeanor,” Pierre told Louisiana Gannett News. “Anthony hasn’t showed any of those indications – none. He’s having fun.” But NBA draft experts seem to have a different take on the situation. “The scouts that I’ve spoken to really feel like he’s going to go,” said NBADraft.net’s Aran Smith. “People close to him seem like it’s pretty much a done deal that he’s leaning toward going into the draft this year.” ESPN’s Chad Ford ranks Randolph as his No. 7 prospect if he declares early. “Given the craziness at LSU at the moment, NBA sources think he’s nearly a lock to declare this year,” Ford said in a column March 3. “If he does, he’ll quickly become one of the hottest names in the draft.” Smith said Randolph would likely be a top-20 pick this year, but the Dallas native would probably be a better player long-term if he continued to develop in college. “In terms of maturity, maybe Randolph isn’t at quite the level Thomas was,” Smith said. One commonly perceived reason players leave school early is to not risk injuries that could jeopardize their careers. But Randolph said that is not something that concerns him. “Injury is a risk that you take playing any kind of sport,” Randolph said. “You can get injured walking down the street, so I’m going to try not to think about that. If I get injured, it happens.” Randolph said education is more of a concern to him and his parents. “My mom said get your education,” Randolph said. “That’s always going to be there.” Speculation on Randolph’s future will continue until the 18-year-old prospect makes a final decision. But an early departure is not something his teammates will hold against him. “Everybody thought Tyrus should stay one more year – that’s what the fans want – but why not make money and take care of his family,” said junior forward Tasmin Mitchell. “I would not hold it against [Randolph] because everybody’s trying to get there. If he can get there sooner, why not?”
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