Coach Billy Donovan is staying, but everyone else from the national champion Florida Gators is leaving. The four juniors in Florida's starting lineup (Taurean Green, Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah and Al Horfard) have announced that they're all leaving for the NBA. Florida's other starter (Lee Humphrey) and its sixth man (Chris Richard) are seniors. ESPN reported that all four players have assured Billy Donovan that they will finish this semester. If they were to leave school immediately and therefore earn Fs this semester, that could hurt the program's academic standing, which can result in scholarship reductions.
Obviously, losing a starting five that some consider the best ever means Florida will be a very different team next year. But that doesn't mean the Gators can't compete next year. Florida is said to be the front-runner to land point guard Jai Lucas and power forward Patrick Patterson, the two best high school prospects who haven't declared yet. Florida won't three-peat in 2008, but the Gators could be very good again.
UPDATE: I've heard from a few people who don't think Lucas will pick Florida. Andy Katz said on ESPN that he thought the Gators were likely to land Lucas, but both Lucas and his father (former NBA player and coach John Lucas) have said Jai will take his time choosing a college, and Florida is probably behind both John's alma mater, Maryland, and a couple of other schools in the running for Lucas's services.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-05-2007 @ 4:35PM
Laura said...
How do you know Florida wont three-peat? It could happen.
Noah, Green, Brewer, Horford, Humphrey and Richards - my love to the greatest team EVER!
Can the Gator Nation do any better. Well, football season is just around the corner.
Gators Rock! Gators Win. See ya Friday night in O'Connell.
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4-05-2007 @ 4:52PM
Josh Ater said...
Seriously, its Jai LUCAS... Such an informed article!!!
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4-05-2007 @ 6:12PM
Natalie said...
It's sad to see them go, but hey, they're all going to be great players in the NBA.
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4-06-2007 @ 6:13AM
MM said...
Best ever,give us all a break. Ohio State was within 3 shots of tieing and if Greg and had a supporting cast in tune with the game, game over and to Ohio State. So to say these are the best ever........forget it. They are good but not as good as they think they are.......just watch them play. So forget it and get a life.
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4-06-2007 @ 6:14AM
MM said...
Best ever,give us all a break. Ohio State was within 3 shots of tieing and if Greg and had a supporting cast in tune with the game, game over and to Ohio State. So to say these are the best ever........forget it. They are good but not as good as they think they are.......just watch them play. So forget it and get a life.
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4-06-2007 @ 3:31PM
howard copel said...
the ucla teams were best ever not even close the jabbar(lew al) walton teams the won how many games in a row
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4-07-2007 @ 3:57PM
greg said...
good thing Katz doesn't know jack about basketball, and recruiting in particular.
come to Kentucky PP & Jai, the future is bright...
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4-08-2007 @ 3:49AM
sharkboy said...
Oden and a better set of team? then that wouldn't be the 2007 ncaa finals, right? Oden maybe good. perhaps great. but when he was out there banging with richards and noah, what was touted to be a phenom became a child willingly schooled. he maybe be big and has the face of a 32-year old but he still needs time to earn the faith you have bestowed upon him. But for now, Florida will be drinking the booze.
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