*Update*

According to the Miami Herald, Miller has signed a five year deal to join the Heat, though the specific terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed.

On the same day that Udonis Haslem signed a 5 year contract to join the NBA’s newest “Big Three”, fellow Gator Alumni, Mike Miller decided to follow his close friend and join the force that is the Miami Heat. According to ESPN.com, Miller will also sign a 5 year contract with the Heat at any time. Arn Tellem, who represents Miller, confirmed his client’s intent to sign with the Heat via his blog while oddly comparing Miller to the Beatles’ Ringo Star.

Apparently, the two former Gators were in close contact regarding their decision to join forces with the other stars on Miami’s roster. Regarding the opportunity to play with Miller, Haslem has been reported by ESPN saying, “Nothing else for me to consider. That’s my boy from day one.”

During the 2009-10 NBA season, Miller averaged a respectable 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game to go along with a nearly 50% shooting percentage from behind the three point line for the Washington Wizards.

Both Haslem and Miller will likely come off the bench for the Heat during the upcoming season. The two former Gators will look to achieve something that alluded them at Florida; a championship.

Well, it is official. Former Gator Udonis Haslem has declined free agent offers so he could sign back with the Heat for 5 years worth near $20 million, which is more than $10 million less he could have received on his check if he would of took the offers from the Dallas Mavericks and the Nuggets. It shows you that Haslem isn’t playing just for the money, but for the passion and love of the game. Yet again, the decision of LeBron James and Chris Bosh to sign with the Heat has a lot to do with it I bet you that. But Haslem has Florida all in his blood. From being born in Miami and playing high school ball there, to playing for the Florida Gators and then for the Heat back in his hometown. He even has a tattoo of the state of Florida covering his whole entire back. How could you possibly play for another team if you have that much love and pride for your hometown?

“I would be changing my DNA if I left just for money,” Haslem said. [ESPN Reported]

Marc Stein stated that Haslem sent in an email to South Florida Sun-Sentinel that said; “Turned down full mid level from Dallas and Denver. See u next season.”

Haslem was wanted by the Nets as well. He had seen great offers from several teams wanting to sign him, but money wasn’t everything to him. The Nuggets wanted to give him a huge offer, bigger than any other team was going to give Haslem because of the injuries of Kenyon Martin and Chris “Birdman” Andersen who both recently had surgery that will keep them out for the season.

Haslem, who just turned 30 this past June, earned a total of $7.1 million last season with the Heat. He averaged 10 points and 8 boards each game during his career. He also was a huge contribute to the Heats 2006 NBA Championship, the same year Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators won the NCAA title.

“It’s good to be back,” Haslem said.

[Quotes gathered by Marc Stein.. NBA writer for ESPN]

Gator Nation can finally take a breath. Bradley Beal, a five star shooting guard from Chaminade High School in St. Louis confirmed he would not follow former Gator commit Austin Rivers, also a five star recruit, out of the Florida Gators basketball program. Back in April, when Rivers decommitted from the school, most everybody assumed the worst. We all held our breath hoping the Gators wouldn’t lose Beal too.

But, instead of leading Beal out of his commitment to the Gators, Rivers’ decommitment may have opened up more time on the court for Beal, thus strengthening his commitment to the Gators instead.  

Before joining his Gator teammates in the fall, Beal will be busy showcasing his ample talents in the FIBA U17 World Championship from July 2-11 in Hamburg, Germany. The U.S. Team will begin their Gold Medal Defense on the first day of competition against the Argentina National Team. Beal is expected to be one of the starts of the tournament and will hopefully continue his excellence throughout the summer and into the fall. Beal assured questioning reporters recently that he stays in contact with the Gator coaching staff and his fellow teammates as he prepares to suit up in the red, white and blue in the summer and the orange and blue in the fall and spring.

We can now turn our attention to the upcoming basketball season with high hopes of making another run. The assurance that our five star freshman shooting guard will suit up for the fall campaign makes it easier for Gator Nation to breathe.

Two time NCAA Basketball Champions and current NBA players Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer will host the first annual Back 2 Back Youth Basketball Camp with the $299.99 fee donated to Shands Health care.

Boys and girls ages 9-18 can participate in the 2 day camp beginning July 26-28 at the O’Connell Center. The day begins at 8:30p.m. and runs to 4p.m.  For more information, please visit the website http://www.back2backcamp.com

Florida Gator head coach Billy Donovan and new UCF head coach Donnie Jones, who is also a former assistant of Donovan’s will be back on the floor but not on the same side.

Both Florida and the Knights have agreed to face against each other on December 1 which will be held in Orlando.

Jones is not only a former Gator, but became the coach over at Marshall before taking the head coaching job at UCF back on March 29. Back when Donovan coached at Marshall, Jones helped out as his assistant and then moved to Gainesville and became the assistant there even during the back-to-back National Championships in 2006 and 2007.

Other former Gator assistants that were under Donovan and are now in the SEC are Anthony Grant (Alabama) and John Pelphrey (Arkansas). I spoke to Pelphrey at CFCC when he attended one of their games to watch the Nations top juco player Ricardo Ratliffe.

The Gators will go up against the Knights new Amway Center which is still undergoing construction.

(Info gathered from Antonya English of Gator Report.)