From 2 to 5 Recruits

[themistocles]

I was just thinking about groups of 4 recruits, like Wilbekin & Crew, Miller & Crew, Bonner & Crew and Horford & crew, and then about other groupings that appeared to work well and for time.

So, I looked back over Billy D's recruiting history (not transfers - just Frosh) to attempt to recall which groups had the most impact. One issue with this is the quick departure of several guys who contributed early (Miller, Harvey, Beal), so it really is difficult to compare classes, but anyway, I went back through history and they are below, by year:

1997 - Brent Wright, Major Parker
1998 - Miller (2 yrs), Dupay, Haslem, Halton (hurt)
1999 - Harvey (1 yr), Bonner, Nelson, Hamilton
2000 - Orien Green (2 yrs), Colas
2001 - Brown (0), Lee, White (1), Moss
2002 - Roberson (3), Walsh (3), Drejer (<1), Boggan (1), Al-Kaleem (1)
2003 - Humphrey, Richard, Abukar (1), Appleby (1)
2004 - Brewer (3), Noah (3), Horford (3), Green (3)
2005 - Huertas (1), Hodge, Sutton (2)
2006 - Mitchell (2), Powell (2), Werner
2007 - Allen, Calathas (2), Lucas (1), Parsons, Tyus
2008 - Chaney (1), Kadji (2), Shipman (2), Vargas (1), Walker
2009 - Boynton, Murphy, Tishman (1)
2010 - Larson (2), Prather, Wilbekin, Yeguete, Young
2011 - Beal (1), Pitchford (1)
2012 - Frazier, Ogbueze, Graham, Walker

Now, it doesn't really look like the 2012 class will have 4 contributors, as 1999, 2004 and 2010 did (1998 surely would have, but Halton got sick too quickly). Unfortunately, the 1998 and 1999 classes were damaged by NBA defections.

The 2002 group is interesting because, out of 5, not a single guy made it 4 years (same is true for 2011, but only 2).

Note that there are three players there: Colas, Moss and Pitchford, where Billy D brought on a kid out of desperation for a Big man - He should NEVER do that, obviously.

So, anyway, my thoughts are that the "Best Groups," as a whole regarding total contribution, are - 1998, 1999, 2004 & 2010. All of those were 4, except 2010 (with last minute Larson making it 5).

[gatorbogey]

interesting examination.
w/ the scholly limits - or for whatever the reason, it seems we have a tough time going back to back w/ 4 recruits in a given class. and if we do, it seems that we're unlikely to have them for any length of time.

interesting that we've only had 3 leave "early" for the nfl - harvey miller beal.

2000 was a good run
then, of course, the 2006-7 runs
and lately we've gone to elite 8's 2011, 2012
might be interesting to chart the experience of the contributing players and the success in the ncaa's.

apparently,
need a year or a couple of years in the system to make a good run in the ncaa's for a BD coached team. at least 1 year. then you have a chance to make a run when you keep the core group around and they gel together.

[InstiGATOR1]

Well, not that it changes your point but I believe both Drejer and Abukar played more than one season at UF but less than 2.

[tampajack1]

In 1999, we also signed Sylbrin Robinson. Sylbrin would have been a great addition if he had qualified.

[GothamGator]

Good stuff. It's always fun and informative to go back and see how the classes panned out and what led to strong teams.

I think your comment about the bigs was a little off the mark,, especially as it pertains to Moss. The guy was a solid contributor and sometime starter who selflessly took a role off the bunch when Horford came on his freshman year. Plus, Moss was terrific in our national championship win over UCLA, scoring 9 points in the first half when our starters were out with foul trouble.

[danky1313]

Mareese Speights? Mario Bogan?

[InstiGATOR1]

It is hard not to call the Boynton Murphh class very good.

[themistocles]

Originally Posted by GothamGator

I think your comment about the bigs was a little off the mark,, especially as it pertains to Moss. The guy was a solid contributor and sometime starter who selflessly took a role off the bunch when Horford came on his freshman year. Plus, Moss was terrific in our national championship win over UCLA, scoring 9 points in the first half when our starters were out with foul trouble.

Insti, my memory may be faulty, but I seem to recall that Moss contributed in one game only throughout his entire career, that being the UCLA championship game.

I don't recall him ever starting.

Perhaps my memory is faulty.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by themistocles

Note that there are three players there: Colas, Moss and Pitchford, where Billy D brought on a kid out of desperation for a Big man - He should NEVER do that, obviously.

I would be interested to know what separates the spring reach Yegeute from the spring reach Pitchford. I also wonder how Moss fits in that mix when he was a two-year starter and an important rotation player for both a national champion and SEC tourney champion. Moss was hardly some terrible reach.

One fact that bears mentioning is the short-lived 5/9 rule in the mid-00s. That really forced some odd maneuvering to balance out the roster, especially with a hefty dose of transfers.

The one thing I noticed is how absolutely underrated that 2010 class looks now. Young was notable, but Wilbekin was an absolute steal and Yeguete isn't far behind.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

This is one of the reasons I love Erv Walker so much, the entirety of the rest of his class bailed on us Erv was a rock and was all alone, Maybe this contributed to his sometimes surly attitude and maybe it is s reason why Billy stood by him through thick and thin but he stuck it out and will always be a favorite of mine

[InstiGATOR1]

Originally Posted by themistocles

Insti, my memory may be faulty, but I seem to recall that Moss contributed in one game only throughout his entire career, that being the UCLA championship game.

I don't recall him ever starting.

Perhaps my memory is faulty.

It was Gotham not me that questioned your comment on bigs. My view is:

1. Moss was not huge contributor though being a big contributor in the first NC game is a pretty big deal.

2. Though a frustrating player, he also provided decent minutes though out his career. How would you have liked to have had Colas or Moss as backups when Yeguete was injured?

[Ahab]

Moss started 16 games as a sophomore and 7 as a junior.