1 » Florida Gators head basketball coach Billy Donovan continues to insist he is not too worried about sophomore center Patric Young’s ankle, noting Monday that team doctors have determined he is not in jeopardy of aggravating or worsening the injury though he will “deal with periodically some discomfort and he’s going to have to work his way through that.” “He’s fine right now,” Donovan said. “I don’t expect him to miss practice. He’s not complaining of anything. It could flare up. Patric’s never really I think ever had a sprained ankle. He’s never really dealt with this before so it’s all new to him.” Young himself said that doctors have told him the tendinitis has to do with the lining of his joints and that he does not have any tears or sprains. “It was just from overuse or something like that. It’s just a nagging thing, like a lot of pain whenever I try to just move or walk, lateral movements really affect it,” he said. “I still can’t really jump too well off my right foot and not too well off of two feet. When it comes time for the game, I’m normally ready and it doesn’t really bother me. After a certain level, I have to pass the threshold of pain and then I don’t feel it anymore.” It is unknown whether or not Donovan intends to start Young for the first time in three games on Thursday at Ole Miss.

2 » Gators redshirt freshman defensive tackle Leon Orr, who received a written arrest on Jan. 10 and was given a notice to appear in court for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, has agreed to deferred prosecution with the State Attorney’s Office, according to Florida Today. As a result of the agreement, Orr will pay $50 in court costs and either an additional $150 fine or perform 12.5 hours of community service. Orr was the fifth player to be charged with possession of marijuana since head coach Will Muschamp took over in Jan. 2011. “At the end of the day a mistake was made, and I’ve learned from it,” he tweeted on Jan. 19. Orr played in all 13 games in 2011, registering 10 tackles, a sack and a pass defense.

3 » There is not much to talk about in regards to Atlanta Hawks forward/center Al Horford now that he is out at least until the end of April with a torn labrum. However, ESPN’s Marc Stein dropped an interesting note about Horford in his Friday column, explaining that he is “a likely down-the-road top contender to succeed” Los Angeles Lakers’ point guard Derek Fisher as president of the players’ union two years from now when the latter’s contract expires. Known for his personable yet serious character, Horford is already heavily involved with the league serving as one of the NBA’s biggest international ambassadors. A shift into a role like this would seem natural to many who know him, and Horford himself even tweeted “Maybe…” when a fan asked if he was up for the gig on Jan. 22.

Click to expand and read three more BITS in this post.

STILL TRYING TO CURE FLORIDA’S ROAD WOES

Donovan knows what ails the Gators on the road but getting the team to correct those issues is another story. As is obvious to many fans who have watched Florida complete in true road contests, the Gators are struggling with their energy and intensity but also in three other areas: turnovers, shooting efficiency and defending field goals.

“The only thing that I can talk about is coaching our team and what we do, so I never want to take away anything from our opponent,” he said. “We played against obviously a very good Syracuse team, a very good Ohio State team, Rutgers is a very good team, Tennessee is a very good team. We’ve had four road games against four really good teams. And I don’t think South Carolina at home is any exception; I think they’re a good basketball team. As it relates to winning on the road, our guys got to learn. We have a lot of guys in situations for the first time going through something like this.

“There’s a learning process. As much as I want that to be expedited and sped up and have it all figured out, there are certain things they’ve got to get better at. When you go on the road and you do play against good teams, if you do turn it over, if you do shoot a real low percentage, if you do give up a high percentage, that’s a problem. If you look at our stat sheet on the road, teams have shot a very high percentage [.466] against us, we’ve turned the basketball over [17.3 per game], we have not shot a high percentage [.429]. [...] That’s not a formula on the road to really be able to win.”

If you compare those numbers to what Florida puts up in other games, the differences are apparent. The Gators shoot 48.9 percent on home/neutral courts, only give up 9.6 turnovers per contest and defend at a 40.0 percent clip.

There is one thing Florida does quite well away from home that Donovan is noticing.

“There is a level of persevering that goes on [while] on the road. There is a level of fortitude and an ability to handle the adversity when a team goes on a run, how you respond. The one positive that we have had on the road is we have had some level of resiliency where we have gotten down and we have fought back,” he said.

“Our resiliency and our fight is there; they have done that. Sometimes when you have a 40-minute game with turnovers, not a great shooting percentage, giving up things defensively that need to be taken away, sometimes that’s not the best formula to really put yourself in a true position to win. [...] It’s not like our team has been blown out by 25 points on the road and we’re just ways away from being competitive. We’ve been competitive; it’s just how do we find a way to get the result we want?”

PRACTICES A “LOSE-LOSE SITUATION”
Click to expand and read the remainder of this post.

Atlanta Hawks forward/center Al Horford is expected to miss three-to-four months of action with a torn left pectoral muscle, the team announced Thursday.

Horford, named to back-to-back NBA All-Star games as a reserve, was averaging 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game before being injured against Indiana in the first quarter on Wednesday.

A career 12.8-point, 9.5-rebound per game player, Horford was named a team captain for Atlanta last year after signing a five-year, $60 million extension in Nov. 2010. He is one of the Hawks’ two best and most popular players.

Atlanta noted that injuries of this sort typically require surgery, but Horford will be going for a second opinion before making a final decision about what road to take. The three-to-four-month window will likely keep him out at least through the regular season and makes him questionable to return for the playoffs should the Hawks make it that far.

“We are very disappointed for Al and our team and we wish him the best as he moves forward in the rehabilitation process,” said executive vice president and general manager Rick Sund. “He has contributed greatly to our success since his arrival in Atlanta, and that’s evident by his selection to the NBA’s All-League [third-]team last season.”

Photo Credit: Atlanta Hawks

Al Horford, F/C, Atlanta Hawks
- 2010-11: Averaging career highs in points (15.3), field goal percentage (.557), assists (3.5) and minutes (35.1), Horford also contributed 9.3 rebounds and 1.0 block per game last year. He led his team to the second round of the playoffs for the third-straight season; nlike the previous two years, the Hawks were not swept but rather fell 4-2.
- 2011-12: The Godfather was named a captain in Atlanta one year ago and wound up earning his second-straight NBA All-Star nod as a reserve. The Hawks resigned him to a five-year, $60 million extension in Nov. 2010, and he enters this season as one of the team’s two best and most popular players.

Joakim Noah, C, Chicago Bulls
- 2010-11: Averaging a double-double with career highs in points (11.7), field goal percentage (.525), assists (2.2) and minutes (32.8), Noah was also good for 10.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steal per game. He only played in 48 games due to having two surgeries for ligament damage in his hand and a right thumb injury but helped lead Chicago to the conference finals where the Bulls lost 4-1 in five games.
- 2011-12: Noah was rewarded by Chicago for his hard work with a five-year, $60 million extension last offseason. His defense and shot blocking makes him an elite big man in the league and he will be a key piece for the Bulls this season as they hope to earn a spot in the NBA Finals.

David Lee, F/C, Golden State Warriors
- 2010-11: Falling just short of a double-double average aver accomplishing that feat in consecutive seasons with the New York Knicks, Lee contributed 16.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game in 36.1 minutes on average last season. He shot 50.7 percent from the floor and 78.7 percent from the line in 73 games after missing nine due to an elbow injury that got infected.
- 2011-12: Lee agreed to a six-year, $80 million contract with Golden State after being traded from New York before last season and shined as a efficient big man in an up-tempo offense. His numbers fell because he was not relied upon as heavily with the Warriors, but he should have ample opportunities to showcase his talent.

Read the rest of OGGOA’s 2011-12 NBA Preview…after the break!

Udonis Haslem, PF, Miami Heat
- 2010-11: Averaged 8.0 points and 8.2 rebounds on 51.2 percent shooting in 26.5 minutes; did not start a single game for the second-straight year and only participated in 13 regular season contests before suffering a Lisfranc fracture in his foot. Haslem was named a team captain for being a veteran leader in Miami who accepted a reserve role and turned down significantly more financially lucrative contracts to remain with his hometown team. He was able to return for the playoffs and played 24.2 minutes per game averaging 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds.
- 2011-12: Haslem returns in a reserve role and is expected to be named a team captain once again. The Heat are looking to return to the NBA Finals and capture their first title since LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined the team.

Mike Miller, G/F, Miami Heat
- 2010-11: Averaged 5.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting the worst he has in his career (40.1 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from downtown, 67.6 percent from the free throw line). Started two contests in 41 games played, missing 41 contests throughout the season with a nagging thumb injury that was fractured and torn during the preseason.
- 2011-12: Fully healthy over the summer and hoping to be a big-time contributor for Miami this year, Miller had hernia surgery just as the NBA lockout was ending and is expected to miss the first few weeks. He will join the team in a reserve role, serving as a three-point specialist who the Heat hopes will help spread the floor.

Corey Brewer, G/F, Denver Nuggets
- 2010-11: Averaged 8.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.6 steals in 56 games (22 starts) while playing 24.3 minutes per contest with Minnesota before being traded to New York as part of the deal for Carmelo Anthony. Brewer was then waved and signed by the Dallas Mavericks, where he played in 13 games (two starts) and averaged just 5.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.8 steals in 11.4 minutes per game.
- 2011-12: Brewer was traded to Denver in the offseason and is still trying to find his groove in the pros. He has continued to work on his consistency both from the field and downtown while playing solid defense and being an effective player when he gets on the court. Brewer won a NBA title with the Mavs last year and joins a Nuggets team that lost 4-1 in five games in the first round of the playoffs.

Marreese Speights, C, Philadelphia 76ers
- 2010-11: Averaged career-lows in points (5.4), rebounds (3.3) and blocks (0.3) while playing five fewer minutes per game (11.5) than he did in 2009-10. Speights shot 49.5 percent from the field and 75.3 percent from the line and only played in 64 of 82 games being deactivated often on coach’s decisions.
- 2011-12: There was talk that Speights might be traded in his fourth year with Philadelphia, but the 76ers wound up retaining him with hopes that he continues to develop. Speights was showing some promise early in the 2009 season before a knee injury slowed him down and diminished his contribution level with Philly.

Matt Bonner, F/C, San Antonio Spurs
- 2010-11: Averaged 7.3 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 46.4 percent from the field, 45.7 percent from three and 74.4 percent from the line in 21.7 minutes – all numbers improved from the previous season.
- 2011-12: Bonner signed a four-year, $16 million contract with San Antonio prior to the 2009-10 campaign and continues to serve as a reserve for the Spurs, which fell 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs last year.

Chandler Parsons, F, Houston Rockets
- 2011-12: The No. 38 overall pick in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft, Parsons spent some of his offseason in France playing for Cholet Bakset before returning to the United States to join his team. He signed a four-year, $3.7 million contract with Houston with the first two years of the deal guaranteed and additional conditional guarantees available in the final two seasons. The 2011 SEC Player of the Year, Parsons averaged 11.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 34.1 minutes per game with the Gators while shooting 48.0 percent from the floor and 36.8 percent from downtown. He will have to work hard for time at forward with the Rockets seeing as there are currently five players in front of him for playing time.

Vernon Macklin, PF, Detroit Pistons
- 2011-12: The No. 52 overall pick in the second round of the draft, Macklin signed a standard rookie contract with Denver and was able to spend the entire shortened offseason practicing with the Pistons. He averaged 11.6 points and 5.4 boards in 24.5 minutes per game with Florida while shooting 59.3 percent from the field and a paltry 45.1 percent from the line. Macklin will be at the end of the bench for Detroit, which features a deep frontcourt, and may not see much playing time in his rookie campaign.

1 » Nothing that Denver Broncos executive vice president John Elway has done to this point – whether it be verbal comments or body language – has shown that he fully supports quarterback Tim Tebow. Despite the fact that Tebow is winning games and doing so in a variety of ways, Elway recently answered “no” when asked by a radio station if he was “any closer to having your quarterback on this team” than he was a month earlier. With Tebow continuing to win and Elway receiving more and more criticism, he told FOX Sports this week that he “could have done a better job answering that question.” “It was a little too blunt,” he went on to say. “I should have said, ‘We’re not talking about the future. We’re talking about right now. Tim Tebow is definitely our guy.’”

Tebow recently avoided a question asking whether or not he felt the entire organization was behind him; that non-answer is likely what led Elway to personally apologize to his star, which FOX Sports notes he did recently. In fact, Elway has also told Tebow that he plans to work with him alongside QB coach Adam Gase in the offseason – not to “fix’ his throwing motion but rather to improve his accuracy. “I don’t believe you change a throwing motion. I do believe you can really help your accuracy by your feet,” Elway said. “That’s where, to me, Tim has so much upside. He’s improving. It’s just a matter of getting it burned into his reactions and mind.”

2 » The Florida Gators football team participated in its annual banquet on Saturday in which the team is presented a number of awards for everything from on-field performance to working hard in practice and how courageous a particular player may be throughout the season. Below are the 2011 award winners along with some award explanations, courtesy of the University of Florida.

Click to expand and read the final TWO BITS of this post.

1 » Florida Gators redshirt freshman forward Cody Larson may have had his legal matter settled in the state of Florida (he accepted deferred prosecution for his misdemeanor criminal trespassing charges) but how his actions will impact his legal status in South Dakota is another story. According to Keoland.com, Larson’s 120-day suspended jail sentence may be invoked due to him violating the law. “Minnehaha County State’s Attorney Aaron McGowan filed a motion this week asking a Sioux Falls judge to drop the suspended sentence and consider jail time on the prescription drug charges from last year,” the website reports. “A court date has been set for Friday. That’s when it will be up to a judge to decide if Larson serves any or all of those 120 days.”

2 » After nearly three months away from football, former Gators offensive tackle Max Starks has officially been re-signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, the same team that cut him shortly after the lockout ended due to concerns over his weight and status following offseason neck surgery. Starks, a favorite of the front office but reportedly a problem for the coaching staff, returned Wednesday and found his old No. 78 jersey hanging in his locker. “It was good to see everybody and everybody was happy to see me,” he told the Steelers’ website. “It was like old times. There are a lot of old faces and some new faces. It’s comfortable and it’s home. I am happy to be back.” OGGOA spoke with Starks a few weeks ago in an exclusive interview that will be published on the website in the coming days. He hopes to returns to the NFL gridiron as soon as Sunday.

Click to expand and read three more BITS of Gators news.

1 » Former Florida Gators running back Kestahn Moore received some good news Thursday evening when he learned that the Tennessee Titans decided to sign him and bring him into camp as a free agent. Moore, who was signed with Kansas City in training camp a year ago and was worked out by Tennessee last November, is back with the team on a trial basis and could play as soon as Saturday against St. Louis. He told The Tennessean that he originally thought he was heading to Nashville, TN just to work out for the team. “That’s why you have to stay ready and working out,” he said. “I’ve got a chance now and I am ready.”

2 » Speaking with the Associated Press on Thursday, Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow found humor in the alleged $5,000 bounty placed on his head by a Miami Hurricanes booster. “I didn’t know about that,” Tebow said. “It’s funny, though.” Tebow, who said he had “good memories” from his one game against Miami, is confident that no one went after him during the game. “That’s never what you want in sports. You’re playing to win,” he said. “You go hard. I mean, it’s a violent game, people get hit, people get hurt. But to go out there and purposely try to hurt someone? I don’t believe in that at all. That’s not why we play the game. So, that’s unfortunate if some people would go [such extremes]. But I don’t think all the Miami Hurricanes went out there trying to hurt me or anything because I had quite a few friends, as well. So, I think there were a lot of good players on that team, good kids on that team.”

3 » Just like the volleyball team, Florida soccer received plenty of praise from Southeastern Conference coaches this week. Surveyed in preseason poll, 11 of the 12 league coaches chose the Gators to win the 2011 SEC title. Additionally, two Florida soccer players – senior midfielder/forward Tahnai Annis and redshirt junior defender Kathryn Williamson – were named to the watch list for the 2011 Hermann Trophy, the highest individual award in NCAA soccer.

4 »

Over the last few weeks, OGGOA has conducted a number of interviews and posted them throughout the site. Due to the large amount of content posted each day, we wanted to make sure you did not miss any of them. Below are all of the the interviews that have been conducted since early July. A list of all of our exclusive interviews is available as a widget on the right sidebar of every page.

Click to expand and read the rest of this post.

Averaging career highs in points (15.3), field goal percentage (.557) and free throw percentage (.789) while also posting 9.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in 2010-11, he was named a NBA All-Star for the second-straight season just months after Atlanta locked him up long-term with an impressive five-year, $60 million contract extension in November.

OGGOA caught up with the two-time National Champion, two-time NCAA Finals Most Valuable Player and member of the 2008 NBA All-Rookie Team while he was in Lexington, KY practicing with the Dominican Republic National Team. Horford, who is working out in facilities usually occupied by the Kentucky Wildcats due to his team being led by Kentucky head coach John Calipari, has found himself learning a new system in enemy territory. He spoke with us just after completing practice about a variety of topics including his new contract, reminiscing with the Oh Fours, representing his country and performing some Gator Chomps in the near future.

ADAM SILVERSTEIN: Last time we spoke was a year and a half ago just before you played in your first All-Star game. You went back and posted some career highs this season. To what do you attribute your continued improvement?
AL HORFORD: “There’s really no secret behind that, it’s all about putting in the time in the summer. I always try to focus on something different in the offseason that I want to work on and improve. This past summer I got a chance to work with [veteran skills trainer] Rob McClanaghan, a great basketball trainer who works with a lot of other guys in the league including Derrick Rose. He helped me a lot with my game, but I think at the end of the day it is just all about taking the time and making a commitment to work and keep getting better in the offseason.”

AS: Is there any type of competition between you and Jo[akim Noah]? Obviously you were came out of the same school and were picked high in the 2007 NBA Draft, but you’re also playing the same position and competing in the Eastern Conference, too.
AH: “Nah, not really. Me and Joakim, when we talk, we rarely talk basketball. I’m sure he wants to do good and great for his team, and I do the same, but I think at the end of the day we’re not caught up on so much individual stuff. For us, it’s more about our teams and winning and stuff like that. Obviously he has the upper hand on me because of their team because of the playoffs. I know he was happy about that. We’re not competing individually, it’s [more like] how much we impact our individual teams.”

Read the rest of our exclusive interview with Al Horford after the jump!

AS: I spoke with Taurean [Green] a few months ago and he told me about all of you finally reuniting at his wedding. Have the four of you had a lot of opportunities like that since leaving Florida for the NBA? If not, how special was that?
AH: “Honestly, that was the first time that all four of us were together at the same time, I would say, before that it must have been two years. It was like 2009 the last time we were all back together. We realized how much we missed each other. We clicked right away because we all hung out together. At times [prior] it was me, Joakim and Taurean; or those three without me; or us without Corey [Brewer]. This time that we all got together [was special]. I think we’re going to try to make an effort now to get together more often. We shared some great times with the Gators, and we should keep staying close.”

AS: Well to that end, Taurean said that Corey can be the one who is pretty impossible to get in touch with sometimes…
AH: “Yeah, I mean Corey is definitely the hardest to get a hold of. Corey is low-key. You usually know where he’s at, but it’s just a matter of reaching him. He spends a lot of time at home with his parents in Tennessee and stuff like that. We’re going to make a conscious effort to get together more often. Depending what happens with our season, we’re going to try to make it down to Gainesville. I mentioned to the guys that Coach [Billy] Donovan was nice enough to offer us [the ability] to come and work out and use the facilities. I think that would be great. In the past we’ve gone and played pick-up with the guys before the season. That wouldn’t be a bad idea. That’s something as a resource that we can use. Hopefully we can get us together down there in Florida. Taurean could have an issue being in Spain, but at least Corey and Joakim [and I].”

AS: I know that, while you’re comfortable playing center, ideally you really want to play the four. How do you feel about Atlanta’s attempts to get a center to play next to you?
AH: “The more comfortable I get, the more I feel like I can play the four. That’s something they’re going to have to consider. At the end of the day, I think the priority is to see what is going to happen with the lockout and everything. Once that happens, we’ll see where the team is at and we’ll go from there.”

AS: Being the No. 3 overall pick, your rookie contract was nice. But the extension you signed last offseason was even nicer. Have or will you be splurging on anything?
AH: “Not yet. Nothing that I can think of or have done yet. My contract extension kicks in when the next season starts, and I kind of knew there was a possible lockout, so I just got prepared financially. I enjoy my life but am smart about [my money] and am not really spending like that yet. I will eventually do something, but I haven’t thought of anything yet. I have everything I need so we’ll see what happens and what comes to mind.”

AS: Let’s talk about what’s going on with you now. When were you approached about possibly playing for the Dominican Republic national team?
AH: “They approached me in January or February. I played a couple times with them before; [the team has] had some issues. This year they had a new group running the show and everything, and I [appreciated] what they believed in, their philosophy and their vision with our team. Everything was right, so it was a no-brainer for me to represent my country and give them a chance to qualify for the Olympics – something that’s never been done for the Dominican Republic. And we have a legitimate shot.”

AS: Is it strange to be practicing in enemy territory at Kentucky in Lexington?
AH: “It’s different. People here acknowledge me. Surprisingly they’re not too harsh. They usually say, ‘Hey Al, you’re a great player, but Go Cats!’ It’s different. There are Gators in Lexington, surprisingly. They come up out of nowhere and approach me and stuff when I’m out. So it’s always good to see a fellow Gator.”

AS: Obviously you’ve played on a lot of really good teams, and I know there are a few other NBA guys on the roster. How is the team looking right now?
AH: “It’s coming together. We’re running a new system with Coach Calipari. A lot of us are not used to running the way that he runs things. We’re adjusting to it. The biggest thing for us is understanding what he wants us to do, and now we’re trying to put it together, figure it out and move along. Playing exhibition games are going to help us get prepared for the FIBA Americas tournament.”

AS: I know you haven’t been working under him too long yet, but can you compare Calipari with let’s say Donovan as a coach?
AH: “The biggest difference that I’ve noticed is Calipari wants you to attack and dribble-drive to the basket a lot and create that way as opposed to Coach Donovan, who wants us to do more pick-and-rolls or have the ball leave the floor as much as possible – pass-pass-lay-up and things like that. They have some similar concepts – they both believe in transition and running the break and things like that, but they both have a different way [of achieving that]. Calipari uses more dribble hand-offs, and Coach Donovan is more about pick-and-rolls.”

AS: I asked a few readers if they had any questions for you. One of them said they wanted to see you do some Gator Chomps after big-time dunks or plays next year like some of the guys do in the NFL. What do you think about that?
AH: “That is a great idea. That is a great idea. I will consider doing that; however, I have to do it when we’re about to win a game or something like that. I can’t be doing it when we’re down 20. That’s definitely a good idea, and I’ll take that into consideration.”

» OGGOA INTERVIEWS: P Chas Henry | DE Kevin Carter (Part I), (Part II) | Delisha Milton-Jones | DL Joe Cohen | F Chandler Parsons | C Marreese Speights | LB Mike Peterson | PG Taurean Green | QB Tim Tebow | QB Danny Wuerffel | ESPN’s Erin Andrews | ESPN’s Erin Andrews II | DE Alex Brown | WR Percy Harvin | F/C Al Horford | WR David Nelson | QB Shane Matthews | TE Cornelius Ingram | DE Jermaine Cunningham | S Major Wright | LB Earl Everett | DE Justin Trattou | DT Terron Sanders | F/C Chris Richard | DE Lynden Trail

However, services like Twitter and Facebook can also be used for other things. Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden sponsored a little league team because a fan asked him to. He has also taken groups of fans out to lunch and happy hour simply because he can. Other former Gators have raised money for charity (Buffalo Bills wide receiver David Nelson), given away free stuff to fans (Atlanta Hawks power forward Al Horford) and even had open discussions about Florida’s Ring of Honor qualifications (New Orleans Saints defensive end Alex Brown).

So when Florida Gators redshirt freshman defensive end Lynden Trail started tweeting pictures of himself planking on various surfaces and objects late Monday evening, Gator Nation undoubtedly noticed – and laughed.

“Planking,” for those of you uninitiated to the recently popular practice, is defined by Wikipedia as “an activity […] consisting of lying face down in an unusual or incongruous location. The hands must touch the sides of the body, and having a photograph of the participant taken and posted on the Internet is an integral part of the game.”

Trail, who himself was subject of what turned out to be false claims about his persona due to picture uncovered on the Internet during his recruitment, has been an active tweeter for quite some time. He took his game to another level on Monday with the planking pictures you can view by expanding the post.

Click to expand and view the remainder of this post.

1 » No. 3 Florida Gators softball (47-9, 21-7 SEC) was shocked Thursday as they were upset 6-2 by the Auburn Tigers (39-16, 15-13 SEC) in the first round of the 2011 Southeastern Conference Tournament. The No. 2 seed going into the event, Florida fell behind 3-0 in the first inning before cutting the lead to 3-1 on a RBI single by senior catcher Tiffany DeFelice (1-2, RBI) in the bottom of the fourth. No. 7-seed Auburn responded immediately, scoring three runs in the next frame to jump ahead 6-1 and hold on for the victory. Senior right-handed pitcher Stephanie Brombacher (17-2) got the start but was pulled after giving up three runs (one earned) in the first inning. Freshman RHP Hannah Rogers came on for the final six innings and struck out three while similarly giving up three runs (one earned). UF committed three errors on the day.

2 » Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford, currently fighting to stay alive against the Chicago Bulls in the 2011 NBA Playoffs, was named to the All-NBA Third Team on Thursday. It is Horford’s first career All-NBA selection and the first ever for a former Gators basketball player.

3 » Former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins has had a not guilty plea submitted by his attorney on his behalf for his most recent charge of misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Attorney Huntley Johnson, who spoke with The Gainesville Sun about the plea, also said that Jenkins will likely transfer to either North Alabama or Valdosta State to play football next season. A report Wednesday stated that Jenkins to North Alabama was a done deal; however, it appears that Jenkins is at least still considering his options.

4 » Seventeen of the top young basketball players in the nation were invited to attend the 2011 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship training camp held June 17-24 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Two of those 17 players selected Thursday are Gators freshman center Patric Young and 2011 signee guard Brad Beal; each accepted his respective invitation. Twelve of the 17 invitees will be picked for the team. Young and Beal each have a great chance of being selected at the end of the camp. “I know Patric and Brad are both excited about this invitation,” Florida head coach Billy Donovan said in a team-released statement. “It’s a unique opportunity for a player, so it’s an honor for them to be a part of this group.” The 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship will be held June 30 to July 10 in Latvia. The United States is in Group D with China, Egypt and Serbia.