Julius Randle reveals how his AAU team flew private: 'I am dominating my age group and I am flying everywhere, it was crazy'

Julius Randle, now a three-time NBA All-Star, had a basketball journey that began far from the spotlight of Madison Square Garden, where he became a top superstar. Born in Dallas, Texas, Randle's athletic prowess was evident early. He rose through the ranks, earning a reputation as one of the nation's premier talents at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas.

By 2013, he was firmly cemented among the top five players in his high school class, alongside names like Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Aaron Gordon.

A memorable opportunity

Before the center became a household name, he dominated AAU circuits, where young basketball stars compete for national recognition. His time with the Texas Titans, an elite AAU team, was pivotal. The team, founded by Texas businessman Ken Trout, played on a level unmatched by most. The NBA star recalled how joining the Titans provided an unprecedented lifetime opportunity.

"I don't know if it was because we were so good, but we did. That was the first time I played," Randle said. "Basically, how the story was is like I played up until this team called the Texas Titans started. Shout out to the Trout family… the dad, he was starting a team for his son; dad was a billionaire starting a team for his son."

"The biggest thing in AAU is you have to pay for everything... So my mom, being a single parent, I used to watch her struggle… and he took care of everything. Obviously, we were flying private, but hotels, parents, and everything else were there. So it was like I'm dominating my age group, and I'm flying everywhere; it was the craziest experience of my life."