Archive for June, 2009

Matt Elam May Take More Visits

Posted by admin on June 30th, 2009   No Comment

Matt Elam is committed to the University Of Florida but he still would like to take a few more visits to other schools such as Georgia, Alabama, West Virginia and Virginia Tech.

The five star recruit has heard chatter go around that there might be coaching changes next year for the Gators but could all be rumors.

“I’m still committed to Florida,” Elam said. “I’m just looking around to see something different in case something goes down and I can’t go to Florida anymore.

Elam is a solid player with a ton of talent. He is rated the fifth overall prospect in class of 2010 and can be a huge addition to this ball club. He recorded 91 tackles and nine sacks his junior year at Dwyer. Receiving wise, Elam caught for 776 yards on 36 grabs. He also rushed for 431 total yards.

When Elam committed last October, it made a whole lot of Florida fans happy. Well at least I know I was happy because I know for a fact he is one of the best players not only in the state of Florida but in the Nation.

(Quotes gathered by Adam Gorney from GatorBait.)

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Calathes Traded To Dallas

Posted by admin on June 27th, 2009   No Comment

It hasn’t been long since Nick Calathes was drafted 45th by the Minnesota Timberwolves and now he is already on his way to Dallas. That is if he doesn’t play ball over in Greece which he is probably doing.

The Twolves gave up Calathes for a 2010 pick and a cash deal. They already drafted Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn so they really didn’t have any more room for Calathes at the guard spot.

Nick has already signed a contract to play professional ball over in Greece.

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Mack Brown Keeps Gators As Favorite

Posted by admin on June 26th, 2009   No Comment

So far for Mack Brown, Florida is still on the top of his list as his favorite school and hasn’t showed any change what so ever. Coach Urban Meyer really shows a lot of interest in this kid because he is the one who is recruiting Brown.

“I talked to Urban Meyer the other day,” Brown said. “He said he’s going to recruit me instead of the other coaches. That’s big. They won two national championships and he’s the head coach? That’s real big.”

Rivals has Brown listed as the sixth best running back and the No. 50 overall recruit in the 2010 class. Brown stands at 5-11 and 185 pounds out of Lithonia, (GA) Martin Luther King. The four star recruit rushed for 1,712 yards with 21 touchdowns last season. This kid is pretty legit in my book.

This is how it’s looking so far on Brown’s list. Florida is his number one choice followed by Georgia who he has down as No. 2. Other schools who he has some interest in are Alabama, Oklahoma and Florida State. If Florida can pull Brown out into becoming a Gator then that’s just more speed Florida will be developing. Brown was clocked before at a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash.

Brown should be taking a trip to Tallahassee to visit Florida State sometime in July. He recently took a visit to Georgia but he did not work out any.

“I went down there for three or four hours,” Brown said. “I talked to one of their coaches a few days ago. They are No. 2.”

(Quotes gathered by Adam Gorney from GatorBait)

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Timberwolves Take Chance On Calathes In Second Round

Posted by admin on June 26th, 2009   No Comment

Well it took longer than most of us hoped, but Nick Calathes was drafted Thursday night by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the NBA draft with the forty fifth pick. The 6’5, 185 pound twenty year old, was predicted by most to be picked before the end of the first round, but knowing Nick has already signed a contract to play for Panathinkaikos Athens, in the Greek league, might have made teams reconsider using a first round pick on Calathes.

ESPN’s Chad Ford ranked Calathes as a mid to late first round draft pick and as the 14th best point guard in the draft.

Nick came to the University of Florida as one of the most highly touted players in UF basketball recruiting history. Nick was a five star recruit and ranked the 14th best player in the nation, and the third best point guard in the nation. He was ranked ahead of some notable players including first round draft picks: Jonny Flynn, Blake Griffin, and Jeff Teague.

Nick backed this up with a stellar high school career where he, and former Gator teammate Chandler Parsons, also a five star recruit, led the Lake Howell Silver Hawks to four straight final four appearances, before finally going out with one in his senior year. He averaged 28 points a game, 8 rebounds a game, 6 assist a game, and four steals a game in his final prep season. He was also a McDonalds All-American, as well as a Jordan Brand All-American, a Parade All-American, and Florida‘s Gatorade player of the year. Calathes also holds the distinction of being one of only three players to ever be named Florida’s Mr. Basketball twice.

During his high school career he also played with Joey Rodriguez, the starting point guard for Virginia Commonwealth, and his older brother Pat Calathes who played for St. Joes, and now plays professionally in Greece.

For his Florida career Calathes put up some solid numbers in his two seasons of play for the Gators. His freshman year Nick averaged: 17.2 points per game with 5.2 rebounds a game, 6.1 assist a game, and 1.6 steals a game. His Sophomore season Nick bettered each stat averaging: 17.2 points a game, along with 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assist, and 1.9 steals a game for the Gators. In his freshman year, Calathes was rewarded for his efforts earning All-SEC second team honors along with All-Freshman team, and being named the Co- SEC Freshman of the year (Patrick Patterson). Also while at UF, Nick recorded two triple-doubles, beating out Corey Brewer’s one.

By: Spencer Geldreich

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Q&A With Walter Hodge

Posted by admin on June 25th, 2009   No Comment

Walter Hodge came to the University of Florida with a three star ranking on the Rivals database, and ranked the 26th best point guard in the nation, and will leave with the most career victories ever for a Gator basketball player.

Hodge attended Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, Florida, where he won state titles on undefeated teams his sophomore and senior seasons. His senior season he averaged over 26 points a game for Florida Air. He chose to attend Florida over Auburn, Hofstra, Georgetown, Kansas, and Arkansas.

In his first season with the Gators, Walter averaged 19.2 minutes with 3.8 points per game. In the 06-07 season Hodge saw his minutes go down but his point go up as he averaged 17.7 minutes a game but with 5.7 points per game. After Taurean Green headed off for the NBA, Walter finally got the starting nod and averaged over 30 minutes a game and over 10 points a game. In his senior season Walter once again saw averages drop as he played over 28 minutes a game and averaged 8.9 points a game.

Hodge has told Gatorsportsnation writers that he plans on furthering his basketball playing days by playing overseas. Walter will leave the University of Florida with two National Championship rings, two SEC Championship rings, and the title as the winningest player in University of Florida Basketball history with 117 victories. GSN caught up with Hodge to ask a few questions.

How does it feel to be the winningest player in Florida history?

“I feel good knowing I am one of the winning player in gators history.”

What was your most memorable moment at UF?

“The two National championship games”

What was it like being able to play for coach Billy Donovan?

“Good he is one of the best coaches in America”

What advice do you give younger kids who want to play college ball?

“Work hard every day and don’t let no one tell you that you can’t do it”

Do you still stay in touch with anybody from the National Championship team? Guys like Noah, Horford, Brewer and them?

“Yes I talk to them all the time”

What is next for Walter Hodge?

“Play pro over Europe or NBA”

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Ross Hoping For Florida Offer

Posted by admin on June 24th, 2009   No Comment

O.J. Ross might be small in stature, but is huge in playmaking ability.

Ross who only stands in at 5’10 and weighing 175 pounds, has ultra quick moves, and burn right past you speed. Ross finished off his junior year with 34 catches for 693 yards and 10 touchdowns playing for powerhouse Daytona Beach Mainland. He is also a four star player on the Rivals database ranked as the No. 43 receiver in the nation.

Florida International, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Syracuse, South Carolina, Rutgers, Purdue, North Carolina, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Michigan, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Arkansas, and of course Florida are involved in the early stages of his recruitment, and all have offered with the exception of Florida.

Texas Tech, West Virginia, and North Carolina stand out right now and would be in his top due to the systems that they play in, but if O.J. were to get a Florida offer that would shoot them to the top.

“Right at the top, No. 1, that’s my dream school,” Ross said of Florida.

Recently at the Florida camp one of the many highlights for O.J. was working with Gator receiving coach Billy Gonzales.

“I would love playing for him,” said Ross, “I could see him and me having a really good relationship. He seems really cool. I just like it there.”

Quotes and state courtesy of Adam Gorney And Gatorbait

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Scroggins Keeps Florida In His Top Three

Posted by admin on June 23rd, 2009   No Comment

The 6-3 195 pound quarterback out of Lakewood, California still has options open for the school that he feels most comfortable in playing for. After his visits to Tennessee and Florida, he said he has kept Florida in his top three choices.

“My top three is Florida, Tennessee and USC,” the 6-3, 195 pound Scroggins said. “At this point I don’t have a leader. I am camping at SC on Wednesday and Thursday then I will start sorting some things out.”

Scroggins is trying to find the right school that best suits him because he has never been far from home from his parents or anything. He has the kind of home sick feeling and he wants to find the right place that he thinks he feels good at. The USC Trojans are trying to really get him and I wouldn’t blame Scroggins for having a big favor in them because he would be close to home and he doesn’t have to worry about moving that far out. He said he just wants to find the school that makes him feel like he is at home.

A few Tennessee players tried to comfort and talk with Scroggins about what all you go through during the changing phase and what not. They really want Scroggins to turn into a Volunteer and play for them, and that’s what I would be doing if I was anybody from Florida.

Scroggins really likes how Florida’s offense is ran. He said he feels real comfortable with the spread offense that Tebow runs while both USC and Tennessee are both pro-style offensive teams.

Scroggins may be leaning towards his decision sometime this week. A video below are some of Jesse Scroggins highlights.

(Quotes gathered by Brent Hubbs from GatorBait)

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Patric Young Stands Out At NBA Camp

Posted by admin on June 23rd, 2009   No Comment

Florida commit Patric Young recently participated in the NBA players association top 100 camp and was pointed out as one of the best big men who were there. His strength is the biggest threat to his opponents but what may be his downside is his lack of offense.

Patric is 6-8, 2010 Florida commit out of Jacksonville Paxon school. Youngs energy in games is outstanding, this kid can go all out without resting. That’s what else is very impressing about this kid, he is always active. Yeah like was said above, his offense struggles but somehow he finds a way to score. He doesn’t give up on getting to the whole but the majority of his points are from put backs and in transition points because he can get up and down the floor really well for his size and that’s also impressive and what most coaches want to see. That’s important in a big man, able to get up and down the floor and score the easy buckets. Young scored 14 easy buckets in the two sessions he played in the NBA event.

Rivals.com recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer spoke a few words about Young’s performances.

“He rebounds at such a high level, is a tough defender inside, his offensive game is rough and raw and he’ll probably never be a polished and refined low-post scorer but he’s going to produce points just off his effort and the way he rebounds,” Meyer said.

“He gets a lot of offensive putbacks, runs the floor well and I really like the way he competes. He’s just the type of big man Florida needs.” (Quotes from Adam Gorney from GB.net)

Florida could really use Young. The Gators have lacked a big man ever since Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Chris Richards left and they were perfect examples of true big men who can run up and down the court and since Young has the capability of doing so, he can really give the Gators a boost.

Rivals has Young rated as the eighth best center and No. 72 overall in the class. And after all of the news that has spread about how well he did at the NBA players camp, I am sure he has a clean shot of moving up in those rankings and would really impress people. He just needs to build a stronger low post game.

Before Young was recruited by Florida, other schools who were highly interested were Georgia, Florida State, Miami, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, and Clemson. While playing his junior year at Paxton, he was averaging about 15 points and 17 boards per contest. I think Florida is an excellent school for Young because Billy Donovan will work with him and he will see so much improvement in his game. He then will finally have a deadly low post game. Look what happened with Noah and Horford and those big men. I think Billy can do the same for Young.

(Quotes collected from Adam Gorney from Gator Bait)

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