The only thing separating Florida’s 2014 basketball recruiting class from top 10 status was a space eater who lives in the paint. The Gator fulfilled their needs at the point, on the wing and in finding a hybrid forward who can play both inside and outside, but they couldn’t get past the hat ceremony with the big guys .
Florida landed ultra-quick Chris Chiozza (5-11, 160, Memphis, TN White Station) to give them a second point guard to go with Kasey Hill next season and Brandone Francis (6-5, 210, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic/Jacksonville, FL Arlington Country Day) is a three-position player on the perimeter who can shoot the three and slash to the hoops. In Devin Robinson (6-8, 190, Chesterfield, VA Christchurch School) Billy Donovan has his long, lean hybrid forward who can run the baseline, play the high post or step out to the wing and nail a three.
It’s a very good class but it desperately needed another big guy. The Gators thought they had the one they wanted in Kevon Looney (6-9, 200, Milwaukee, FL Hamilton), but he pulled a shocker and chose UCLA on a day when everyone had Florida penciled in. Abdul-Malik Abu (6-8, 240, Boston, MA/ X Kimball Union Academy) loved everything about Florida and so did his parents, but he ended up at North Carolina State, where his AAU coach wanted him to go all along. The Gators got in too late on shot blocker Goodluck Okonoboh (6-10, 220, Woborn, MA Wilbraham and Monson Academy), another one who pulled a shocker by going with UNLV.
Florida passed on Malik Price-Martin (6-9, 215, Miami, FL Northeast), a power forward they could have had early in the process. He wound up at Southern Cal with former Florida Gulf Coast Coach Andy Enfield.
The Gators are expected to get some help from midterm transfer Alex Murphy (6-9, 230), younger brother of Erik Murphy, but Alex is more of a finesse player, better suited for a stretch four role like his older brother.
For the most part, Donovan has avoided junior college players in his 17-plus years at Florida, but this might be the year that he has to dip into those ranks. The Gators will continue to see a late bloomer – another Will Yeguete – to sign in the spring. There is a possibility that a player such as Ted Kapita (6-9, 220, Kinshasha, Congo/Melbourne, FL Florida Air) could reclassify to 2014. Kapita has already reclassified once from 2014 to 2015, but it’s possible that he could flip once again. Another option is to wait until spring when coaches get fired – this is a year that should be quite active – to come up with a big guy who asks out of his letter of intent. The final option is to seek a foreign player but that’s often dicey because many European kids get tied up with a club team and that makes eligibility in the US questionable at best.
The Gators have room to sign two more – possibly three if Damontre Harris doesn’t get his act together – for 2014-15, but unless they can come up with someone with some bulk in the middle, it’s going to be a front line long on athleticism but a bit weak in the muscle department. If Harris manages to get his house in order, Florida’s front court roster next year will look like this: Damontre Harris (6-10, 228, SR); Dorian Finney-Smith (6-8, 214, JR); Chris Walker (6-10, 220, SO); Devin Robinson (6-8, 190, FR).
WALKER UPDATE: Chris Walker has completed all his course work and is simply awaiting the official word from the NCAA that he’s cleared to enroll once the fall semester ends. Florida coaches are confident that they will receive clearance. They’ve already put in the paperwork for Walker’s dorm room and scholarship.
DILLON GRAHAM UPDATE: MRI on Dillon Graham’s hips revealed far more damage than originally thought. In addition to bone spurs, Graham also has a torn labrum in both hips. He will have surgery in the spring and will take a medical redshirt this season along with Eli Carter, who has not fully recovered from a broken leg suffered last year when he was playing at Rutgers.
RECRUITING CLASS OF 2014
Signed: Chris Chiozza (5-11, 160, Memphis, TN White Station); Brandone Francis (6-5, 210, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic/Jacksonville, FL Arlington Country Day); Devin Robinson (6-8, 190, Chesterfield, VA Christchurch School)
Expected Midterm Transfer: Alex Murphy (6-9, 230, SO TRANSFER FROM DUKE)
Big Misses: Kevon Looney (6-9, 200, Milwaukee, FL Hamilton); Grayson Allen (6-4, 185, Jacksonville, FL Providence); Justise Winslow (6-6, 220, Houston, TX St. John’s); Goodluck Okonoboh (6-10, 220, Woborn, MA Wilbraham and Monson Academy); Abdul-Malik Abu (6-8, 240, Boston, MA/ X Kimball Union Academy); Trayvon Reid (7-1, 220, Snellville, GA Life Center Academy); Mackinde London (6-10, 210, Thompson’s Station, TN/Montverde, FL Montverde Academy);
The Gators Could Have Had: Adonys Henriquez (6-6, 200, Santiago, Dominican Republic/Orlando, FL Orlando Christian Prep); Ricky Doyle (6-9, 255, Fort Myers, FL Bishop Verot); Malik Price-Martin (6-9, 215, Miami, FL Northeast); Kobe Eubanks (6-6, 200, Fort Lauderdale, FL/Centereach, NY Our Savior New American School); Dan Manzi (6-9, 230, Tampa, FL Tampa Bay Christian)
RECRUITING CLASS OF 2015
Committed: Kevarrius Hayes (6-10, 200, Live Oak, FL Suwannee)
In-State Prospects: Antonio Blakeney (6-4, 180, Orlando, FL Oak Ridge); Alex Owens (6-9, 240, Orlando, FL Oak Ridge); Ted Kapita (6-9, 220, Kinshasa, Congo/Melbourne, FL Florida Air Academy); Haanif Cheatham (6-5, 180, Fort Lauderdale, FL/Pembroke Pines Charter); Chance McSpadden (6-4, 180, Winter Haven, FL); Dwayne Bacon (6-5, 180, Lakeland, FL/Bradenton, FL IMG Academy); Corey Sanders (6-2, 180, Lakeland, FL/Bradenton, FL IMG Academy)
Out-of-State Prospects: Doral Moore (7-0, 220, Locust Grove, GA Luella); Malik Newman (6-3, 175, Jackson, MS Callaway); Cheick Diallo (6-9, 220, Bamako, Mali/Centereach, NY Our Savior New American School); Jaylen Brown (6-7, 220, Marietta, GA Wheeler); Moustapha Diagne (6-8, 230, Dakar, Senegal/Sparta, NJ Pope John XXIII); Daniel Giddens (6-10, 225, Marietta, GA Wheeler); Tyler Dorsey (6-5, 180, Bellflower, CA St. John Bosco); Malachi Richardson (6-5, 180, Hamilton, NJ Trenton Catholic); Noah Dickerson (6-8, 245, Atlanta, GA North Atlanta); Develle Phillips (6-8, 210, Upper Marlboro, MD/Clinton Christian School)
RECRUITING CLASS OF 2016
Committed: John Mooney (6-9, 210, Altamonte Springs, FL Lake Brantley)
In-State Prospects: Juwan Durham (6-9, 200, Tampa Prep); Dewar Huell (6-9, 200, Miami, FL Norland); Udoka Azubukie (6-11, 240, Lagos, Nigeria/Jacksonville, FL Potters House Christian); Andrew Wilbekin (6-0, 155, Gainesville, FL The Rock School); Troy Baxter (6-8, 180, Tallahassee Leon); Eric Hester (6-3, 175, Oldsmar, FL Oldsmar Christian)
Out-of-State Prospects: Jayson Tatum (6-7, 200, St. Louis, MO Chaminade College Prep); Kejuan Johnson (6-6, 210, Marietta, GA Wheeler); Malik Monk (6-3, 175, Lepanto, AR East Poinsett County); Josh Langford (6-5, 195, Madison, AL Madison Academy); Junior Smith (6-1, 165, Fayetteville, NC Trinity Christian); Tyree Crump (6-2, 170, Bainbridge, GA)
RATING SEC RECRUITING 2014
1. KENTUCKY (4): Karl Towns Jr. (7-1, 240, Santiago, Dominican Republic/Metechen, NJ St. Joseph); Trey Lyles (6-10, 250, Brampton, Ontario/Indianapolis, IN Arsenal Technical); Devin Booker (6-5, 190, Moss Point, MS); Tyler Ulis (5-9, 150, Matteson, IL Marian Catholic)
Biggest Misses: Emmanuel Mudiay (6-5, 190, Dallas, TX Prime Prep); Stanley Johnson (6-6, 225, Fullerton, CA Mater Dei); James Blackmon Jr. (6-2, 175, Marion, IN)
2. FLORIDA (3): Chris Chiozza (5-11, 160, Memphis, TN White Station); Brandone Francis (6-5, 210, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic/Jacksonville, FL Arlington Country Day); Devin Robinson (6-8, 190, Chesterfield, VA Christchurch School)
Biggest Misses: Kevon Looney (6-9, 200, Milwaukee, FL Hamilton); Justise Winslow (6-6, 220, Houston, TX St. John’s); Abdul-Malik Abu (6-8, 240, Boston, MA/ X Kimball Union Academy)
3. TENNESSEE (4): Phil Cofer (6-7, 200, Atlanta, GA Whitewater); Larry Austin (6-1, 161, Springfield, IL Lanphier); C.J. Turman (6-9, 215, Madison, GA Morgan County); Jordan Cornish (6-4, 180, New Orleans, LA Brother Martin)
Biggest Misses: Kevon Looney (6-9, 200, Milwaukee, WI Hamilton); Chris Chiozza (5-11, 160, Memphis, TN White Station); Leron Black (6-7, 215, Memphis, TN White Station)
4. LSU (4): Elbert Robinson (6-11, 270, Garland, TX Lakeview Centennial); Aaron Epps (6-9, 220, Tioga, LA); Jalyn Patterson (6-1, 170, Alpharettta, GA/Montverde, FL Montverde Academy); Josh Guy (6-1, 170, Houston, TX/Odessa, TX Odessa College)
Biggest Misses: Craig Victor (6-7, 210, New Orleans, LA/Henderson, NV Findlay prep); Dominic Magree (6-3, 175, Gretna, LA Helen Cox); Jordan Cornish (6-4, 180, New Orleans, LA Brother Martin)
5. ALABAMA (3): Justin Coleman (5-10, 155, Birmingham, AL Wenonah); Riley Norris (6-7, 190, Albertville, AL); Devin Mitchell (6-4, 175, Suwanee, GA Collins Hill)
Biggest Misses: Isaac Hayes (7-1, 275, Piedmont, AL Hokes Bluff); William Lee (6-9, 210, Plantersville, AL Dallas County)
6. ARKANSAS (3): Anton Beard (6-1, 180, North Little Rock, AR Parkview Arts & Science); Trey Thompson (6-9, 230, Madison, AR Forrest City); Nick Babb (6-4, 180, Arlington, TX James Martin)
Biggest Misses: D’Angelo Allen (6-7, 190, Dallas, TX Kimball); Dayshawn Watkins (5-10, 165, Little Rock, AR/Grenada, MS Holmes County CC)
7. VANDERBILT (3): Riley LaChance (6-2, 180, Brookfield, WI Brookfield Central); Matthew Fisher-Davis (6-5, 175, Charlotte, NC Charlotte Christian); Wade Baldwin (6-2, 180, Hillsborough, NJ St. Joseph)
Biggest Misses: Jalen Lindsey (6-7, 190, Franklin, TN/Huntington, WV Huntington Prep); Mackinde London (6-10, 200, Thompson’s Station, TN/Montverde, FL Montverde Academy)
8. MISSOURI (2): Juwan Durham (6-9, 200, Tampa Prep); Dewar Huell (6-9, 200, Miami, FL Norland); JaKeenan Grant (6-8, 210, Springfield, GA Effingham County); Namon Wright (6-5, 175, Los Angeles, CA Pacific Hills)
Biggest Misses: Jordan Barnett (6-7, 185, St. Louis, MO Christian Brothers); Tory Miller (6-8, 230, Lee’s Summit, MO/New Hampton, NH New Hampton School)
9. OLE MISS (4): Stefan Moody (5-10, 170, Kissimmee, FL/Kilgore, TX Kilgore College); Marcanvis Hymon (6-7, 210, Memphis, TN Whitehaven); Rauno Nurger (6-10, 235, Bel Aire, KS Sunrise Christian)
Biggest Misses: Leron Black (6-7, 215, Memphis, TN White Station); Oliver Black (6-9, 215, Jackson, MS Wingfield); Joniah White (6-11, 220, Grenada, MS)
10. AUBURN (2): Sam Longwood (6-7, 205, Indianapolis, IN La Lumiere School); Jack Purchase (6-10, 200, Melbourne, Australia Carey Baptist Grammar School)
Biggest Misses: Isaac Hayes (7-1, 275, Piedmont, AL Hokes Bluff); William Lee (6-9, 210, Plantersville, AL Dallas County); Riley Norris (6-7, 190 Albertville, AL)
11. SOUTH CAROLINA (2): Marcus Stroman (6-2, 175, Columbia, SC W.J. Keenan); TeMarcus Blanton (6-4, 185, Locust Grove, GA Luella)
Biggest Misses: L.J. Peak (6-5, 190, Gaffney, SC); Ahmed Hill (6-5, 190, Augusta, GA Aquinas); C.J. Turman (6-9, 215, Madison, GA Morgan County)
12. MISSISSIPPI STATE (4): Demetrius Houston (6-6, 190, Montgomery, AL Carver); Elijah Stanley (6-6, 208, Marietta, GA Wheeler); Oliver Black (6-9, 215, Jackson, MS Wingfield); Maurice Dunlap (6-2, 170, Greenwood, MS Amanda Elzy)
Biggest Misses: Joniah White (6-11, 220, Grenada, MS)
13. TEXAS A&M (2): Alex Robinson (6-1, 175, Arlington, TX Timberview); Sidy Ndir (6-2, 175, Orlando, West Oaks)
Biggest Misses: Justin Jackson (6-7, 190, Tomball, TX Homeschool Christian); Justise Winslow (6-6, 220, Houston, TX St. John’s); Khadeem Lattin (6-9, 190, Houston, TX Redemption Christian Homeschool);
14. GEORGIA (0):
Biggest Misses: Trayvon Reed (7-1, 220, Snellville, GA Life Center Academy); Phil Cofer (6-7, 200, Atlanta, GA Whitewater); C.J. Turman (6-9, 215, Madison, GA Morgan County)