Lincoln’s Randle Headed for Aztecs

Lincoln High School’s Berry Randle set a section basketball record for blocked shots in a season last winter with 175, surpassing, among others, Joe McNaull.

Now, Randle will join McNaull at San Diego State--but don’t expect a prolific shot-blocking tandem.

Randle has signed a national letter of intent with SDSU, becoming the first recruit landed by new SDSU Coach Tony Fuller. But Randle, 6 feet 4, 185 pounds, will swing between off-guard and small forward at SDSU.

“We played him out of position last year,” Lincoln Coach Ron Loneski said of Randle, who played mostly forward in 1991-92. “We had no choice. He was the tallest guy we had.”

Randle also set a San Diego Section career record with 241, surpassing Shane Knight’s 215. The single-season record was held by El Camino’s Dee Brown (147), and McNaull (143) was second.

Randle, a two-time Times all-county selection, averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks per game. Although Randle made no other official visits, Loneski said UC Davis recruited him heavily.

“I think Berry is a legitimate Division I player,” Loneski said. “He can play either the two or three position, and he will get a little bigger and a little stronger. He runs the court real well.

“I said all along, from Berry’s junior year, that I thought he was a legitimate Division I player.”

Loneski said that Randle has already qualified academically for admission to SDSU and will be eligible immediately.

Fuller, who now has one scholarship to give, said he was happy to sign Randle.

“We’re very happy to have a player of Berry’s caliber join the SDSU basketball program,” Fuller said in a statement. “He’s a well-rounded player, an excellent student and a very fine young man.”