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It started with Udonis Haslem, undreafted out of Florida. He came in during Wade's rookie season in 2003 and had really improved his game. He was hitting consistent midrange jumpers (this skill has fallen off IMO and now he drives to much). He was a key cog during several playoff runs, and wasn't afraid to take charges, scrap, or do the dirty work.

Along comes David Lee at the end of the first round. Isiah seems to know how to draft talent late. Lee is the only tradable asset on the Knicks for a couple years. He also does the dirty work, plays solid man defense, gets boards, cleans the glass, et cetera. He's selfless and seems to ignore all the nonsense in the Knicks locker room.

Fast forward to the Gator's first national title. Noah is projected as a #1 option, but he stays in school. After another season and another title, Noah's weaknesses are somewhat exposed, but he still goes top 10. He was worth talking about as a starter on the Bulls. He looks to be a cog in their machine for a while, and got better as the season progressed. The same year Horford is the obvious choice at #3 behind Oden/Durant. He puts up stellar numbers worthy of RoY consideration, but is foiled by 20ppg on 43%.

Now I see Marresse Speights coming out early, even though the Gators miss the tournament. I expected him to stay and have monster numbers in college, when the team actually has some experience. He is projected higher than I wouyld have imagined considering his production, but I guess he does have the size and athletecism to develop in the NBA. Still, I wouldn't have placed him as high as some mocks have him going. Is this due to some perceived "Gator Pedigree" for big guys?

While none of these guys might be the dominant franchise force that you could build around, you're pretty much guaranteed to get a solid contributor. These are low risk, high reward picks. Do you think that this sort of rep is recognized around the league?

I would say so. As I said in one of my posts about Jonathan Mitchell transferring from FL, I attend the University of Florida and am well aware of the big men who have come and gone from this program. Even though in the very back of some people's mind is that eerie image of Kwame Brown, Donovan has learned his lesson on those one and done( one and done now at least) type players. If you look where Noah and Horford were ranked at their positions when they came out of high school, they weren't relatively high. Billy D sees a potential in everyone he recruits, and he knows that a certain player will need more than one year of college basketball. He "seasons" them to help themselves become better along with being a mentor to the younger guys. Speights had the luxury of working alongside Horford, Noah, and Richard, so he has learned a lot.
Which is why I am hoping he returns, with both Kenny Kadji and Eloy Vargas coming here next year, it give us 3 solid big men compared to only one last year.
I wouldn't doubt that teams around the league take a long look at certain colleges who may have an offense that focuses mainly on one or two set positions.

They have a pedigree of turning out capable pros. But, then so do most major powers. None of those guys has proven to be a superstar.

I think Riley mentioned that he likes how Florida grooms their players once (and he's of course friends with Billy Donovan iirc).

Ah, yes. I forgot Richard, who I'm not sure is worth mentioning in this conversation yet. But then I left out Bonner too.

Let's see how Chris pans out first.

I'd say it started with Andrew Declerq.

Just Plain Mark wrote:I'd say it started with Andrew Declerq.

Please. The discussion of Florida big men starts with one name, and one name only -

Da Meat Hook anyone?

I don't care if Dmitri Hill never played in the league. He's got the greatest nickname since I've been following college hoops, and it isn't even close!!

(he was a pretty darn good player, too)

Malinhion wrote:Now I see Marresse Speights coming out early, even though the Gators miss the tournament. I expected him to stay and have monster numbers in college, when the team actually has some experience. He is projected higher than I wouyld have imagined considering his production

Although I didn't get to see Florida very frequently this year, Speights' production is actually what has made me curious about him as a prospect. 14.5/8.1 with a block and a half thrown in there is pretty impressive when you factor in that he only played 24 minutes a game while many other top prospects were getting 30+.

You can question why he only played that many minutes and look at things like team success but individually his stats are pretty impressive IMO.

Like I said, I haven't seen him enough to have any meaningful scouting report on him. But just looking at his stats actually makes me wonder why he isn't projected to go higher than the 20ish type range DraftExpress has him at.

He also got a very high evaluation in a recent article over at the Wages of Wins site:

http://dberri.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/ ... t-preview/

He needs one more year IMO UF played against an extremely weak non-conference schedule, his numbers are inflated. I am really suprised he is projected so high, based on what I have seen he SHOULD be a 17-22 pick this year, and a top 10 next year, maybe even Top 8

They're not exactly turning out stars.

DynastyInTheMaking wrote:They're not exactly turning out stars.

To be fair, he didn't say there were.

To the guy attends UF and said that the freshmen coming in will be a solid unit. Im thinking otherwise. Ive seen Vargas play 4 times live. He did not even make all Broward County 1st team. His strenghts are his length and rebounding, however he is quite skinny. He is no go to scorer even with Kenny Boynton on his team he should be putting up more then hisss (15? ppg?) He played preety terribly against our frontcourt. who was Bigger aroudn 6'8 260 compared to him 6'10 225. I do not see him really as an immediate impact guy.

On topic though, i do think that Billy Donovan is a great coach that brings talent out. The big men have been the face so far, however they have Calethas, Jai Lucas, and are very high on Kenny Boyntons list. Who imo would be a great pickup as he dosent really have the size to be 1 and done, however he should have great impact as a 6'2 SG.


Overall: Donovan runs a good program up in Gainsville

Traveldude50 wrote:To the guy attends UF and said that the freshmen coming in will be a solid unit. Im thinking otherwise. Ive seen Vargas play 4 times live. He did not even make all Broward County 1st team. His strenghts are his length and rebounding, however he is quite skinny. He is no go to scorer even with Kenny Boynton on his team he should be putting up more then hisss (15? ppg?) He played preety terribly against our frontcourt. who was Bigger aroudn 6'8 260 compared to him 6'10 225. I do not see him really as an immediate impact guy.

On topic though, i do think that Billy Donovan is a great coach that brings talent out. The big men have been the face so far, however they have Calethas, Jai Lucas, and are very high on Kenny Boyntons list. Who imo would be a great pickup as he dosent really have the size to be 1 and done, however he should have great impact as a 6'2 SG.


Overall: Donovan runs a good program up in Gainsville

Actually if you saw Boyntons high school team(American Heritage) play this year you might notice Boynton might not even be the best player on the team.

They got a kid after summer last year named Justin Day from Jamaica. He has an inch or two on Boynton is much more athletic and has more skills. The difference is he seemed like early in the season he was getting used to his surroundings but came on much stronger towards the end of the year.

He will be quite a catch for any college if my gut is correct as he is flying under the radar right now. He is going into his senior season and I'm sure the scouts are going to pick up on him when they go to see Boynton play.

Chris Richard is the next Ben Wallace.

tons of 1st team all NBA defense consideration, then overpaid and hated for the twilight of his career

Ben Wallace had 4 DPoYs. I would take that any day of the week.

Badboy wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Actually if you saw Boyntons high school team(American Heritage) play this year you might notice Boynton might not even be the best player on the team.

They got a kid after summer last year named Justin Day from Jamaica. He has an inch or two on Boynton is much more athletic and has more skills. The difference is he seemed like early in the season he was getting used to his surroundings but came on much stronger towards the end of the year.

He will be quite a catch for any college if my gut is correct as he is flying under the radar right now. He is going into his senior season and I'm sure the scouts are going to pick up on him when they go to see Boynton play.

I saw boynton play 4 times... and i saw him average 35ppg, not Justin Day. No one in the county scored close to what he put up. So if YOU saw Boynton play, you would see he is preety much unstopable from long. If you put a big defender, long defender, quicker defender. He gets it offf on you. Boynton is the kid who will bring the colleges, because Day will be a senior next year, just like boynton. Colleges will not be scouting new seniors, they will be trying to pull Boynton.