Franz Beard’s Basketball Confidential

While Billy Donovan and his staff at the University of Florida are obviously celebrating the commitment of Eloy Vargas (6-10, 220, Plantation, FL American Heritage), there is no time off on the recruiting trail. The class of 2008 might be complete, thanks to Vargas, but the Gators are already working hard on the 2009 and 2010 class.

The Gators are getting unofficial visits this weekend from a couple of big time prospects in Ari Stewart (6-7, 190, Marietta, GA Wheeler) and Kendall Williams (6-2, 165, Rancho Cucamonga, CA Los Osos).

Stewart (class of 2009) is a real slasher who plays AAU ball for the Worldwide Renegades of Atlanta. He’s got a very good outside shot, but what makes him so dangerous is his ability to put the ball on the deck and take it to the hoop where he can finish with authority. He can project as either a small forward or a big shooting guard although he really does need some work on his range to become a consistent three-point threat.

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Franz Beard
Back in January of 1969, the late, great Jack Hairston, then the sports editor of the Jacksonville Journal, called me on the phone one night and asked me if I wanted to work for him. I said yes. The entire interview took 30 seconds. It's my experience that whenever the interview lasts 30 seconds or less, I get the job. In the 48 years that I've been writing and getting paid for it, I've covered Super Bowls, World Series, NCAA basketball championships, BCS championship games, heavyweight title fights and what seems like thousands of college football, baseball and basketball games. I'm a columnist and special assignments editor for Gator Country once again, writing about the only team that ever mattered to me, the Florida Gators.