Florida’s coaching staff hasn’t gotten comfortable after a stellar 2019 recruiting class and are instead putting the pedal to the metal finding themselves in some heated races for some of the best talent in 2020.
While Florida is yet to land a commitment most of their main targets have yet to make a decision and the Gators haven’t yet missed on anyone. They’ve been big game hunting with some more 5-stars like the ones they nabbed in Scottie Lewis and Tre Mann and there’s a great chance more NBA-level talent will be headed to Gainesville.
Priorities
There’s a common theme to the offers Florida has put out and the players they’re pursuing and it’s that wings are a priority. Coach White and his staff are determined to get some impact wings in the 2020 class and when you see how the roster has been constructed the last few seasons you can see why. The Gators have lacked wings which has really limited the amount of different lineups they’ve been able to roll out and their versatility has been minimal. Lack of length has also contributed to a struggle to finish inside and rebound and I think Coach White is ready for that to change.
Some of the main wing targets Florida is in decent to great shape with are Brandon Boston, Moses Moody, Keon Johnson, Che Evans, Dudley Blackwell and Matthew Alexander-Moncrieffe. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Gators tried to land 2 of these players in the 6’5”-6’8” mold that could play up and down the lineup. Many of these players are 5-star or high 4-star athletes and could provide instant production for the Gators and the search for wings is one to keep a close eye on.
Here is some Florida news as it relates to individual recruitments.
Jalen Suggs
One of the most interesting players in the 2020 class is Jalen Suggs, the 9th ranked player whose athleticism at the point guard position as well as the ability to knock down shots gives him NBA potential.
What makes him so interesting? Well, he’s also one of the best dual-threat quarterback recruits in the nation with offers to Ohio State and Georgia.
While it’s still yet to be seen exactly what sport he’ll choose most people think he’ll go the basketball direction and with how hard Florida has recruited him let’s hope that’s the case.
A Minneapolis, Minnesota native Suggs isn’t exactly from a traditional recruiting market for the Gators but they’ve been in on him for a long time and have a decent shot here. He recently stated that Gonzaga, Marquette, Minnesota, Iowa, and Florida are recruiting him the hardest and I’ve heard he wants to visit Florida some time in June.
As a top-10 player in the class he’s obviously going to be tough to land but the Gators are right in the mix and it wouldn’t shock me if they get him. I don’t expect a decision soon but this is definitely a player to watch for.
Moses Moody
I knew Florida was in on Moses Moody for some time now but what really made my ears perk up was a recent crystal ball prediction in Florida’s favor.
Moody plays at Montverde but is from Little Rock, Arkansas. A 6’5” shooting guard he’s a dangerous scorer who is one of the best shooters in the class. His hometown Razorbacks are thought to be in good shape to land him and Ohio State has also been mentioned but the Gators with the Montverde connection are definitely a player here.
Shooting is going to be a premium in college basketball especially with the rumor that the 3-point line will be moved back for the upcoming season and having a player like Moody would be huge. He has been on a few visits to Florida and is familiar with several players on the roster and some of those relationships could really come into play with his decision.
Brandon Boston
Another NBA-level wing the Gators are after is Atlanta’s Brandon Boston who recently released his final four schools and included Florida next to Duke, Kentucky, and Auburn. That’s obviously an elite group of schools but that’s the attention the #8 player in the country is going to warrant.
At 6’6” with long arms he is exactly the player Florida wants and exactly the player you need to win in modern basketball. He’s got natural instincts to score and with the length he possesses he’s able to get his shot off against just about anybody.
Boston has already visited Gainesville a few times over the last few years and this has been a lengthy recruitment. With multiple visits he should be extremely familiar with what Florida has to offer and the fact he put them in his final four is encouraging.
Duke and Kentucky are considered the favorites but it’s good to see Florida back in recruiting battles with these schools. The Gators already plucked Scottie Lewis away from these programs and there’s a puncher’s chance they’ll do it again with Boston.
PJ Hall
Perhaps the top frontcourt target for the Gators is PJ Hall. A 6’9” big man, Hall plays with a toughness the roster may have lacked the last few years and I’m sure that’s a big reason the Gators want him. He’s physical and has some good finishing moves around the hoop, something that would compliment the roster really well. The 65th ranked player in the class he’s got some really good upside but is probably a 3 or 4-year player and that means he could bring a ton of production for the Gators throughout his career.
From South Carolina, some of the other schools considered favorites are Clemson and South Carolina in addition to Tennessee. However, the Gators have a bit of a secret weapon here.
Hall’s sister Thayer is a star on Florida’s volleyball team. Going to the same school as his sister could have some allure and I’m sure she’ll be able to speak on many of the positives Florida has to offer as an institution. I’m sure Hall is aware he’s Florida’s top frontcourt target and I think Florida is in a good position here.
These are just a few of the many players Florida is focusing on and there’s a good chance one if not more of these guys ends up in orange and blue. One thing I find interesting about all these players mentioned? All four are from states other than Florida. To see Florida with a great shot at elite talent from outside the state shows the clout they have around the country and proves again the national brand recognition they have. It may be a while until any of these players makes their official announcement but they are still some of the main ones to keep an eye on throughout the summer.