1 » Florida Gators fans have grown nervous that five-star 2011 guard commitment Austin Rivers (Winter Park, FL) may end up changing his mind and picking the Duke Blue Devils rather than playing basketball in Gainesville, FL. According to Evan Daniels of Scout, the Gators now also have the North Carolina Tar Heels to worry about. Apparently head coach Roy Williams is headed down to watch Rivers workout and the junior will likely give the school permission to recruit him. Though he remains committed to UF (something that could change at any time), other schools are entering the mix and obviously piquing his interest.

2 » Now that sophomore guard Ray Shipman has decided to transfer from Florida, several “high-major schools” are vying for his services according to Joseph Goodman of The Miami Herald. Shipman’s high school coach, Mark Lieberman, told Goodman that he has already been contacted by a number of teams including Shipman’s hometown Miami Hurricanes, which would likely be near the top of his list.

Extra Bit » It did not take ESPN’s Page 2 long to take a crack at the Gators and head coach Urban Meyer for his actions after practice Wednesday. Patrick Hruby released a copy of Meyer’s new media policy for journalists covering the team. This is a parody.

Some of the funnier excerpts:

“DO NOT … Question innocent and delicate student-athletes who, like newborn fawns, cannot be expected to hold opinions and/or speak for themselves, nor understand adult concepts such as context and consequences”

“Media members that do not adhere to the above guidelines will be removed from team practice, barred from games and forced to live with the knowledge that they are, in fact, bad girls and guys.”

Tags: Austin Rivers, Duke Blue Devils, Miami Hurricanes, North Carolina Tar Heels, Ray Shipman, Roy Williams, Urban Meyer

Early Wednesday, The Gainesville Sun heard from Ray Shipman, Sr., father of Florida Gators sophomore guard Ray Shipman, who verified the widely held belief that his son would be transferring to another school next season.

“He’s definitely outta there. I talked to him (Tuesday) morning and I just think there were some issues with playing time,” Shipman, Sr. said. “We feel like he can play somewhere at the major Division I level.”

Hours later, the University of Florida confirmed confirmed that Shipman will transfer.

“I have truly enjoyed coaching Ray the last two seasons,” head coach Billy Donovan said. “He’s an outstanding person and a great student. I want to wish Ray the best of luck as he pursues the things that are important to him as a player and as a student.”

Shipman met with Donovan Wednesday in Gainesville, FL.

“I appreciate the opportunity that the University of Florida gave me,” Shipman said. “I want to thank Coach Donovan, the staff, and my teammates for the last two years and I wish the University of Florida the best in the future moving forward. I’m looking forward to making a decision to go somewhere with an opportunity for a bigger role.”

The Sun points out that, in addition to his struggles defensively, Shipman was a poor perimeter shooter and had a tendency to turn the ball over – factors that led to his lack of playing time even though the Gators had depth issues in the backcourt. He averaged 12.4 minutes per game this season while only contributing 2.4 points and 1.7 rebounds.

In the last two years, Florida has seen five players (including Shipman) transfer: Jai Lucas (Texas), Jonathan Mitchell (Rutgers), Allan Chaney (Virginia Tech) and Eloy Vargas* (Miami Dade College). In all, the team has lost 14 scholarship players since winning the 2007 NCAA Championship.

*Vargas transferred due to academic issues.

Tags: Alex Tyus, Billy Donovan, Ray Shipman, University of Florida

In what can only be considered a surprising turn of events for Florida Gators fans, the team and head coach Billy Donovan have decided to take themselves out of consideration for the services of five-star 2010 guard Brandon Knight (Fort Lauderdale, FL), according to Scout.com national recruiting director Dave Telep.

It was widely believed that Knight was choosing between Florida and the Kentucky Wildcats, but with the Gators dropping out it appears to be a certainty that the talented guard will be headed to Lexington, KY, to replace freshman John Wall.

Speculation would have one think that Florida either already knew Knight, who recently won his second-straight Gatorade National High School Player of the Year award, would not be choosing them or cared more about retaining their commitment from five-star 2011 guard Austin Rivers (who is also considering the Duke Blue Devils).

Expect the Gators to focus on signing four-star point guard Ray McCallum (Detroit, MI) to add backcourt depth that is sorely needed.

In related news…
Florida has also decided to end its pursuit of star junior college forward Ricardo Ratliffe, according to The Gainesville Sun. Ratliffe, of Central Florida Community College, is considered by most scouts to be the best JuCo prospect in the country. He attended at least two Gators game this season and worked out with the team last summer. However, being able to start is important for Ratliffe, and with five forwards/centers returning and two more being signed, Florida was not a great fit.

Tags: Austin Rivers, Billy Donovan, Brandon Knight, Central Florida Community College, Kentucky Wildcats, Ray McCallum, Ricardo Ratliffe

The St. John’s Red Storm may have come and gone as a suitor for Florida Gators head basketball coach Billy Donovan, but that does not mean no other programs are interested in his services. According to various sources including one from the Eugene Register-Guard, the Oregon Ducks are in the process of creating a lucrative package in an attempt to lure Donovan out West.

Oregon recently fired head coach Ernie Kent after 13 seasons. Funded primarily by Nike, the Ducks athletic department has the funds necessary to offer Donovan a comparable package to what he is receiving from the Gators.

However, if he is unwilling to return home to New York, it is not likely Donovan would want to move his family across the country without the offer making him at least the highest-paid coach in the country (if not offering numerous other benefits).

Florida has once again let it be known that no one from Oregon has reached out to athletic director Jeremy Foley for permission to speak to Donovan, and Foley believes Donovan would let him know immediately if another school offered him a job.

Donovan is set to receive $3.3 million in salary for the 2010-11 season along with a $500,000 loyalty bonus that kicks in on April 1.

Tags: Billy Donovan, Ernie Kent, Jeremy Foley, Nike, Oregon Ducks, St. John’s Red Storm

On Sunday, the New York Post and New York Daily News reported that St. John’s University had made initial contact University of Florida head basketball coach Billy Donovan about filling their job opening. According to the Post’s sources, Donovan spoke with a Red Storm booster late Friday and “was intrigued by what he heard.”

The Post also claimed that St. John’s athletic director Chris Monasch had already requested permission from Florida AD Jeremy Foley to speak with Donovan directly about the position and even had Donovan quoted as saying the following via text message in response to the story: “I am very happy here, and we have a very good team coming back next season. St. John’s has a great tradition, and I have great respect for that program.”

However, Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun said respective statements from Foley and Donovan refuted that story. Foley contended that he had yet to be contacted by Monasch, while Donovan claimed that he could not control what is being written about him in the press and that he had only briefly spoken with a school alumnus who happens to be close to the Post.

Now, two days later, the Daily News is reporting that Donovan has put a halt to the Red Storm’s overtures by turning down “a contract in excess of $3 million per year.” Their source claims Donovan denied the offer with a: “Thank you so much but no thank you.”

“Billy was hugely flattered about being offered a job with such potential,” the Daily News’ source said. “But he and his family have something great going on in Gainesville.”

The Gators are once again denying this report, with a Florida spokesman and Foley himself saying there is “no truth” to the story.

Pete Thamel of the New York Times spoke with Foley, who said he would certainly be aware if an offer was made to Donovan. “There’s no way he’s talking to other schools and getting a contract offer and he’s not talking to me,” Foley said. “He doesn’t operate that way.” He also indicated that no one from the university had contacted him for the opportunity to speak with his coach.

OGGOA will continue updating this item as more information is made available.

Photo Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Tags: Billy Donovan, Chris Monasch, Jeremy Foley, St. John's Red Storm

His Atlanta Hawks clinched their third-straight appearance in the NBA Playoffs with a 119-114 overtime win against the San Antonio Spurs Sunday night, but the highlight of the game was a dominating dunk by former Florida Gators forward/center Al Horford over the Spurs’ Tim Duncan. It’s just nasty.

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, NBA, Playoffs, San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan

1 » Over the weekend, Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel and OGGOA went back-and-forth about the potential transfers of Florida Gators basketball bench players guard Ray Shipman and center Kenny Kadji. Fowler caught up with their former AAU coach, Matt Ramker, who informed him that the duo is expected to remain with Florida. “They are happy at UF and are looking forward to next season,” Ramker said.

2 » Speaking with The Salt Lake Tribune, Shelley Meyer said her husband and Gators head coach Urban Meyer is “150 percent better.” Now that he is back at work, Meyer’s wife is keeping tabs on him in the same respect he stays on top of recruits. Sending him multiple texts ensuring that he is eating, exercising and resting, Shelley claims it is “part of my plan. I’m keeping an eye on him and I’m looking for signs. What happened to Urban was a huge wake-up call that he couldn’t go on like he was.”

3 » In a question-and-answer session with The Gainesville Sun, former Florida cornerback Joe Haden said he felt the pressure of running an improved 40-yard dash at Pro Day last week. Asked how important 40 times actually were, Haden agreed that they were overrated. “They don’t really measure how you run on the field during a game,” he said. “You may be running with someone who runs a 4.2, and you might not be able to run a 4.2, but if you can run with him and cover him, you’re OK. But it’s part of the process and I respect that.” Haden also admitted that he did not do much to help Meyer’s heart issues, playing an April Fool’s joke on him last season when he and former Gators safety Major Wright told their coach they planned to transfer.

4 » One of the biggest disappointments of the 2009 Florida football season was the lack of development of now-redshirt junior wide receiver Deonte Thompson. Though he failed to make much of an impact throughout the season, Thompson is confident he can turn it on in 2010 with new quarterback John Brantley. “I feel I had a good Sugar Bowl,” Thompson told the Sun. “I know now I’ve got to come out hard every day because I pretty much should be the No. 1 guy.”

Photo Credit: Willie J. Allen, Jr./St. Petersburg Times

Tags: Deonte Thompson, Joe Haden, John Brantley, Kenny Kadji, Major Wright, Pro Day, Ray Shipman, Shelley Meyer, Urban Meyer

The New York Post confirmed Sunday that St. John’s University has indeed made initial contact University of Florida head basketball coach Billy Donovan about filling their job opening. According to the Post’s sources, Donovan spoke with a Red Storm booster late Friday and “was intrigued by what he heard.”

Nevertheless, it would take a lot (and certainly a contract exceeding his current $3.5 million per season) to lure Donovan away from Gainesville, FL. Currently, the school is looking to spend under $2 million per year for a coach, though it could raise plenty of additional money through private donations.

“I am very happy here, and we have a very good team coming back next season,” Donovan told the Post via text message. “St. John’s has a great tradition, and I have great respect for that program.”

Donovan, who is already “breaking down film of his team’s first-round NCAA Tournament loss to BYU and working on his recruiting plan” for Florida, is doing exactly what one would expect a coach to do in preparation for remaining at his job next season.

The Post also reported that Red Storm athletic director Chris Monasch already requested permission from Gators AD Jeremy Foley to speak with Donovan directly about the position, though that information is being disputed by Foley (see below).

UPDATE: In text messages he received from Donovan and Foley, respectively, Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun reports that the Post’s story is not 100 percent accurate. Donovan told Dooley that he cannot control what is being written about him in the press and that he has only spoken with a school alumnus who is close to the Post, while Foley contends that he has not yet been contacted by Monasch.

OGGOA will continue updating this breaking story.

Tags: Billy Donovan, Chris Monasch, Jeremy Foley, St. John's Red Storm