Though he is headed back to Chicago soon to workout and attempt to earn a contract, Richard has been concentrating on getting his foundation, The Rich Kids Project, off the ground.

Designed to help and provide opportunities for underprivileged and at-risk youth in the Polk County area, the organization aims at assisting children financially while, at the same time, ensuring that they are building a foundation for their future. “I want to teach substance and individuality through education, arts and just basic knowledge,” Richard told us. And even though the charity is based in Lakeland, he hopes it can grow big over time – with your help. More information on Richard’s charity will be available in the future.

ADAM SILVERSTEIN: Coming out of high school as Mr. Basketball in the state of Florida, you chose to sign with the Gators. What other schools were you considering and why did you end up picking Florida?
CHRIS RICHARD: “At the time I came out of high school, I could have went to just about any school in the country. I got recruited by everybody from North Carolina to Maryland to Indiana … all of the Florida schools. I only wanted to go to Florida. Growing up, once I got into basketball and once I got into sports, for whatever reason, Florida just stood out to me. I was a big Florida basketball fan. I grew up kind of liking Florida State and Miami football-wise. I [also] have family that actually lives in Alachua, outside of Gainesville, so going up there every summer – it kind of grew on me. I chose [Florida] over Florida State and Alabama.”

AS: You did get some playing time early on in your Gators career, but last two years is when your role increased. Losing its three top veterans, the team was significantly underrated going into the 2005-06 season. At what point did you guys realize that you had something special going on?
CR: “You know what, honestly, I know it sounds cliché and everybody says it, but once we got together that summer … Everybody went home for summer break and we came back to start working out for the season, and once we got back and started playing with each other, that was our first time playing together without David [Lee], Matt [Walsh] and Peep [Anthony Roberson]. So we never really saw what each person was capable of doing because everybody’s role was a little bit different that previous year. Just coming in and playing pick up, it was just a lot different. And we saw that on any given night that it can be anybody’s night. So we kind of took that and kind of embraced that and thought it was an advantage for us because we knew that we didn’t have any selfishness on the team. So nobody minded playing backseat … everybody just helped each other and kept it going.”

Read the rest of our exclusive interview with Chris Richard…after the break!

AS: Also quite underrated was Adrian Moss and the role he played on that team when it comes to that season and his senior leadership.
CR: “I think Adrian is underrated overall – from what he is as a basketball player, his role on the team and all of that. People actually forget about him when talking about the National Championship team sometimes. Not the players, but people in general. Adrian, he was that guy on our team – he was the glue guy. He was our glue guy. He didn’t mind doing anything. He took charges. The rest of us tried to – we weren’t any good at it. He took charges, he dove for loose balls, he rebounded, some games he was able to stretch out the defenses, knock down open shots. He was very valuable to us. It didn’t seem like he was vocal on the court sometimes, but behind closed doors, he was one of the guys that stepped in and stepped up when it was time for him to. When we lost to [Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama], he was one of the guys who stepped up and said we had to be accountable. It worked. He’s very underrated.”

AS: Obviously you had plenty of success with the Gators, but for the most part you were the team’s sixth man behind Al Horford and Joakim Noah. Was it tough having them come back and not get a bigger role on the team after the title? Were they seriously considering leaving, or were they always going to come back to play?
CR: “I wasn’t sure what was happening with that the whole time. I knew that some of the guys wanted to leave, some of the guys wanted to stay at different points after the season. At the end of the day, I was happy with whatever move that whoever made because I felt like there was a personal reason for why they were making that move. I couldn’t do anything else but accept it and be happy for them. All of us were – are to this day – good friends and we still talk. I would have been happy for anybody who chose to leave, but at the same time I am glad everybody came back who was eligible. It obviously worked out great for us. I think it definitely helped everybody the second year, in some way, other than winning that championship. It definitely helped each player. I think it was definitely a great move for all those guys to come back.”

AS: Now we talked about Adrian and how underrated he was in 2005-06, but truth be told, you were just as underrated then and perhaps even more so 2006-07. You did get more minutes and saw more action, but you also shot 70 percent off of the bench and never let the team fall behind offensively or defensively. In fact, you could say Florida had a starting six. Was it tough for you to deal with not starting or getting a majority of the minutes especially considering how dynamic you were off the bench?
CR: “[Laughing] Coming out of high school…it’s funny that you bring that up…coming out of high school I was the best player in my area. I was the first player to win Mr. Florida, Gatorade [Florida High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year], all that stuff in my area. So it was just naturally, being one of the better players on my team, the ball went to me a lot. I played hard and did all the right things I was supposed to do. Going to college, my freshman year, I didn’t really realize … I knew it was a different world, but I didn’t realize how it was at the time until I got there. In my head, I was still the best player, just coming form my high school and my area. My first day of college, I soon realized that everybody can jump, everybody can shoot, block shots, everybody is fast – all of that stuff. I learned that I wasn’t the best player on the court anymore; I had to actually start doing some work.

“It was kind of tough for me in the beginning, my first year in particular – my freshman year – because I didn’t really play as much as I wanted to play. Naturally, any player coming in would feel some frustration there. I didn’t play as much as I wanted to, and that kind of affected me in a way. I think it is a good thing that everything worked out the way it did. … My freshman year, I didn’t play a whole lot, I played some. Each year I played a little bit more. As the years went on, I think I kind of just figured out that I just have to accept the role that I have. I’m not the same guy that I was in high school. I just have to accept the role that I have and try to be the best player at whatever it is the coach wants me to be. Whatever he wants me to do, I have to just embrace it and be the best at that and don’t look at what everybody else is doing and don’t try to compare myself to this person or that person because it will never equal out.

“I learned early, if I want to play, I just have to be one of the hardest workers and one of the energy guys and just go play and try to be effective. Once I figured that out, everything else started to come easier – the whole game changed drastically for me. My last two years, it wasn’t hard at all or anything – with Jo or Al leaving or staying – because, selfishly, they helped me. I don’t know what the year would have been like if they had left. Anything could have happened – it could have been better, or it could have been worse. Realistically, I’m content with how everything worked out.”

AS: You have definitely had some great games with Florida, but probably one of your best was in the national semifinals against UCLA when you posted 16 points and were perfect 7-7 from the field. Is that the best you played in the orange and blue?
CR: “That certainly was one of my best games. I didn’t score a whole lot – get the ball a whole lot. But when I did, I was pretty effective. I think that was a pretty good game, one of the Tennessee games maybe my junior year at home [14 points, 7-7 from the field], it was something similar to UCLA but all in the first half. I think that may have been one of my better games that I can remember.”

AS: What is it like playing for Billy Donovan? Do you still keep in touch with him?
CR: “Yeah, we speak all the time. To this day, I think he’s – if not the best – one of the best coaches I’ve had so far. He’s a player’s coach. There wasn’t a time in practice when he put in a play … Say for instance he put in a play, and we didn’t really like it or we didn’t really think it would be useful or there was something we didn’t get about the play… He was open enough to allow us to ask him about what it was we didn’t like about it, or small things like that make a difference on a team because we are the ones who are playing and we are the ones who are on the court. Sometimes there was something he may have put in at practice that we didn’t necessarily agree with and sometimes he would change, or most times he knew more than we did and kept it the same. That’s one of the things all of us liked most about him: he was pretty fair. Coach was pretty fair to the players. That’s another great quality you have to appreciate in a coach. He’s a hard worker, too. To have him as our leader…as hard of a worker as he is…brought the best out of us every night. Every practice, every game, every scrimmage, everything that we did he knew how to get the best out of us because of the passion that he had for the game. He wanted to be successful too. He’s a competitor just like all of us. In that sense, he knew how to bring the best out of us. Those are all of the attributes I like in a coach, and that was pretty successful for us.”

AS: When you all left, he took the Orlando Magic job for a few days before coming back to Gainesville, FL. Now that you have been in the NBA and played for a number of successful professional coaches, how do you think Billy D would have fared in the NBA?
CR: “It’s tough to say because it’s different; it’s a completely different game. It’s a lot faster than it looks on TV. I think he would have been pretty successful, because coach is a pretty smart coach, and he would pick up on things pretty fast – especially on the offensive end. I think he would have been fine.”

AS: Graduating as a senior, you were drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Corey Brewer. Were you happy to be selected by the same team and play with such a close friend?
CR: “I thought it was one of the best things that could happen to anybody getting drafted – especially with both of us moving far away from where we are originally from. It was my first time out of the state to live, he kind of had a little experience in that coming to UF from Tennessee. It was a great experience for both of us, especially as rookies, to learn the city together and learn the game – the NBA game – together. To kind of have somebody that we can trust in and confide in whenever something happened, whether on the team or personally, [was nice]. We lived kind of off of each other, so if anything ever came up, it was great for us because we caw each other every day in practice and games and everywhere we went. Naturally, because we knew each other from playing at UF, we automatically picked up where we left off and it worked out pretty good for us.”

AS: The next year, you were picked No. 1 overall in the NBDL Draft by the Tulsa 66ers. Was there a sense of pride in being so coveted even though it was in the D-league?
CR: “You know what, I don’t think that I really looked at it like that at the time. Now, looking back, I kind of appreciate it maybe. Even though it is the D-league… For whatever it is – any draft, anything that you do in life – if you are the first choice for a person, I personally think that is an accomplishment in its own. That’s saying the person had a lot of respect for you and they think pretty highly of you. So in that sense, yes, looking back on it now. But at first, I didn’t see it as that. I only saw it as me getting cut and still getting over that. I didn’t really see it then like I see it now.”

AS: Do you feel your time there helped you work your way back to the pros?
CR: “Personally, I would have hoped that I was in the league the whole time, I felt like I could have been there. But the reality of it was that I wasn’t, so I had to just take advantage of the situation I was in at the time. And I think it really did help. I think that, as far as offensively, it helped. It helped just playing-wise because, playing down there, you play a lot more than you play in the NBA games. So it helped me just be a little more comfortable and a little more confident in [my] game and just playing in general instead of practicing and just sitting on the bench or working out. So I think it actually did help.”

AS: The Chicago Bulls signed you last year as a replacement after another former teammate, Noah, got injured. Was that a bittersweet feeling?
CR: “No. [Laughing] It was all sweet for me. Chicago was pretty honest with me from the start. I went in last year before preseason, maybe around this time or so, just to work out with Joakim for a few weeks and go from there. But it turned into [the Bulls] talking about me coming to training camp in Chicago, and it actually came up and we spoke about it. They wouldn’t guarantee me anything and kept telling me it would be a long shot for me to make the team – but it wasn’t impossible. I said, ‘OK, well, I have a chance. All I can do is give my best.’ And I did that. At the end of the day, the GM told me they only wanted to keep 13 on the roster, and I knew that going in. I ended up going back to the D-league and they brought me back a few weeks after that, after Joakim got hurt. I was glad to see that I was the first person that they thought of once that happened. So I just have to be thankful for that.”

AS: I know you competed in the summer league this year…I think it was your fourth time. How did things go and what is your outlook for this season?
CR: “I think summer league went pretty well. At this stage in my career, summer league for me is more like a showcase because I’m a free agent. A showcase for other teams to see if somebody else is interested or to show the Bulls organization that I am here and I’m committed to being here. There’s definitely a lot I can learn in the game, and I’m nowhere near where I could be and where I think I will be once I’m finished whenever that is. … It definitely helped for exposure.”

AS: So if there is a team out there considering bringing you on, what do you say to them? What is your pitch? Why do you deserve a roster spot?
CR: “I think I’m a lot better player overall than people may think that I am. I think that, over the years, I’ve learned to embrace the role that I’ve been given. I make the best out of the situations I’m in by being the best roleplayer – whatever role that is that I have at the time – I have to be the best roleplayer in that role to play. I don’t really get involved in, ‘I didn’t get a shot’ or “I didn’t have this many points tonight’ or ‘How come coach is doing this for him?’ I don’t really get involved in all that stuff, because at the end of the day, that’s not what I’m here to do and that’s not my business. I just have to come in and be the best me that I can be and try to fulfill my role and be the best player I can be on the team.”

» OGGOA Interviews: F/C Al Horford | ESPN’s Erin Andrews | DE Alex Brown | QB Tim Tebow | WR Percy Harvin | TE Cornelius Ingram | DE Jermaine Cunningham | S Major Wright | LB Earl Everett

» Former Florida Gators dazzler and ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, who spoke exclusively with OGGOA for an interview on Friday, is headed to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Tuesday to join Congressional sponsors in support of an anti-stalking bill. Andrews, a victim of stalking herself, will appear along with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) to introduce the Simplifying The Ambiguous Law, Keeping Everyone Reliably Safe Act (STALKERS).

» With training camps set to begin in just a few days for the Denver Broncos, rookie quarterback Tim Tebow may end up being a hold out – something that is likely beyond his control and is in the hands of his agent. Nevertheless, The Denver Post’s Mark Kiszla has put the onus on Tebow, calling a potential holdout a “dire dilemma” and one that is “destined to make folks mad,” whether it be fans or fellow players. Fact is, Kiszla is simply trying to paint Tebow as imperfect in this piece…which is true for everyone. Should he not be at camp on day one, he will be shortly after, as Tebow’s goal is to get on the field. But he does have to listen to his agent in this regard.

» The Gainesville Sun caught up with Gators four-star athlete De’Ante “Pop” Saunders on Monday. Saunders, the team’s very first commitment for the 2011 signing class, reaffirmed his desire to play in Gainesville, FL, after he was recently seen wearing Florida State gear. “They were giving me [a hard time] about wearing a Florida State helmet because I didn’t bring my helmet,’ he said. “That’s all it was. I forgot to bring mine and that’s all they had. I’m still here. I’m still Florida.” Saunders plans to enroll early.

» OGGOA has learned that four-star defensive end recruit Aaron Lynch (Cape Coral, FL) is leaning toward Notre Dame and Florida State with Florida now in a distant third place. According to our source, Lynch is concerned about playing time with the Gators and has formed a solid relationship with the staff in South Bend, IN.

Seven more Gator Bites on Corey Brewer, Brad Beal, Houston Nutt, Dallas Baker, Marreese Speights and Udonis Haslem…after the break!

» Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Corey Brewer, currently hosting a basketball camp in Gainesville, was asked a number of questions during a recent media availability, including what it is like to play against former teammates Joakim Noah (Chicago) and Al Horford (Atlanta) in the NBA. “Those are still fun games because Jo is always talking smack,” Brewer said. “Last year Jo was pushing me all over the court when the play was over. It’s always fun to play against those guys. I get on him about the ugly jump shot he has. So I always mess with him. But they always give me a hard time. They’ve both been in the playoffs so I gotta make the playoffs.”

» Florida five-star guard commit Brad Beal (St. Louis, MO) is the talk of high school and AAU basketball these days after putting on a fantastic performance in international competition and leading his team with 36 points last week on the way to the AAU Super Showcase championship game on Tuesday. Check out this profile piece on Beal.

» With all this talk about former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli possibly winding up on Ole Miss, we are reminded that head coach Houston Nutt brought in another discipline-challenged player, former Florida cornerback Jamar Hornsby, just last year. If you remember, Hornsby stole a credit card from Joe Haden’s deceased girlfriend and racked up a bunch of fraudulent charges. After being dismissed from the Gators, he had a stop in junior college before Nutt picked him up, only to see him get indicted on a felony assault charge just a few weeks after joining the team.

» Former Florida wide receiver Dallas Baker, now dominating the AFL with the Jacksonville Sharks, has averaged two touchdowns per game this season and may be one of the most important players on his team, which is about to begin what they hope is a long playoff run. “It’s about conditioning. You’re always playing and it’s about being in shape,” he told The Daytona Beach News-Journal. “With Arena [football], it’s all about quickness and toughness. You had guys when I first started playing they were dirty. There’s positives and negatives.” Baker has the opportunity to be one of the rare players who could wear a National Championship, Super Bowl and Arena Bowl ring.

» Gators head volleyball coach Mary Wise announced Monday that Chris Keen – a former volunteer assistant – has been promoted to assistant volleyball coach. “We are very excited Chris will be working with us again this season,” Wise said. “His knowledge, energy level and work ethic will be a tremendous asset to our program.”

» Former Florida center Marreese Speights, who left school early only to be drafted in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, has struggled recently but is hoping to rebound and take the next step in his career. “I’m just going to go out there and play basketball,” he told the Sun. “I’m not worried about roles or anything like that. I’m just going to play basketball and do what I’ve got to do. I’ve got to get my legs stronger, work on my conditioning and keep playing more basketball.”

» OGGOA also wanted to take a moment to send our sincerest condolences to Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem, who lost his mother Debra to cancer earlier this week at the age of 53. Haslem had been taking care of his mom for the last year after doctors discovered a tumor wrapped around her urethra in early 2009.

» Former Florida Gators forward/center David Lee of the Golden State Warriors has been invited to try out for the USA Basketball Men’s National Team and will be trying to prove his worth during a training camp next week in Las Vegas, NV.

» Twilight actress Ashley Greene is a huge Gators fan, even recently discussing the team on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (watch video). Here is a picture of her Wednesday night with Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Tim Tebow at the ESPYs in Los Angeles, CA. Looks like a happy (and beautiful) young lady.

» Speaking of the ESPYs and Tebow, host Seth Meyers of Saturday Night Live joked about the Heisman Trophy winner during a small portion of his opening monologue. “Tim Tebow is here. Tim’s jersey is already one of the top selling jerseys in the NFL. I heard that and thought: ‘Jesus…who does this guy know? … Oh right, Jesus.’ Just kidding, Tim. And I hope this goes without saying but…just kidding, Jesus.”

» One more… Playing a slight joke on Tebow on the ride back to the hotel Wednesday night after the ESPYs was ESPN‘s NFL insider Chris Mortensen. Sitting next to him on the hotel shuttle, Mortensen told him, “You’re gonna make a heckuva H-back.” Tebow “had a good laugh.” Also confirmed in attendance were Minnesota Timberwolves forward Corey Brewer and sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Jenn Brown.

» Ranking his top six basketball players of the 2011 recruiting class, FOX Sports’ Jeff Goodman has Florida five-star commit Brad Beal (St. Louis, MO) taking the last spot. “[He] reminds me so much of Ray Allen. He’s silky smooth and can really shoot the ball from deep. Beal is also a winner,” Goodman notes.

» Three former Gators golfers – Camilo Villegas, Brian Gay and Mark Calcavecchia – are participating in The Open Championship at St. Andrews this weekend. In opening round action, the three men are T17 (-4), T46 (-2) and T73 (E), respectively.

» Sophomore jumper Christian Taylor, who had a great track & field season with Florida, won his second gold medal at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Under-23 Championships at Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, FL, on Sunday. Winning the men’s triple jump to go along with his men’s long jump crown over the weekend, he is also a three-time NCAA Champion.

» The University of Florida‘s Stephen C. O’Connell Center has been named the host of the 2013 NCAA Gymnastics Southeast Regional.

» If you love recruiting and would like a quick update as to where the Gators are right now in putting together their 2011 class, check out this piece by ESPN recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg. Most if not all of this has already been written about here on OGGOA, but Newberg’s article is a nice recap and does provide some interesting tidbits.

The two members of the Florida Gators’ back-to-back men’s basketball National Championship teams will host The Back 2 Back Youth Basketball Camp powered by Five Star Basketball in Gainesville, FL, from July 26-28.

Find out more about the camp and Brewer’s thoughts on it…after the break!

Here are some of the specifics:

Times: July 26-28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Participants: Boys and girls ages 9-18

Activities: Basketball drills, five-on-five games, contests, educational sessions, player evaluations, lectures and much more

Extras: Lunch, T-shirt, photo with the players, awards, etc.

Cost: $299 per camper

Noah and Brewer will donate all proceeds to Shands Children’s Hospital at UF and the “Corey Brewer Fight Diabetes Fund,” both benefiting the school’s medical center.

“I am looking forward to having our first basketball camp in Gainesville,” Brewer told The Gainesville Sun. “We wanted to start this camp with Five Star Basketball to teach kids some of the things we learned in the pros.”

More information is available via http://www.Back2BackCamp.com.

Photo Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

1 » Former Florida Gators golfers Brian Gay and Camilo Villegas continued their trek through the 2010 Masters on Friday. Both players finished their first round with a 2-over 74 but finished the second day with contrasting totals. Gay continued struggling, hitting a 5-over 77 for a two-day total of +7 151; he is expected to miss the cut. Villegas, on the other hand, improved from his first outing shooting par (72); he remains just 2-over with a total of 146 and will likely make the cut to play the remainder of the tournament.

2 » Florida four-star 2010 forward commitment Casey Prather (Jackson, TN) knows he will have to do battle with the Florida State Seminoles as part of his new team’s annual schedule. However, before he puts on the orange and blue, Prather is teaming up with Florida State four-star point guard recruit Ian Miller (Charlotte, NC) at the Florida vs. USA Hardwood Classic all-star game in Orlando, FL. Prather, who averaged 23.1 points and 11 rebounds as a finalist for Tennessee’s Mr. Basketball honor, spoke with the Orlando Sentinel about the Gators. “I think [head coach Billy Donovan] likes the effort I bring,” Prather said. “I’m athletic and I can score, but I take pride in trying to stop a good player.” As for why he decided to play in this game? “I wanted to do something where some of the [Florida] fans can see me play.” The last recruit of Prather’s size and skill level who the Gators grabbed out of Tennessee? Now-Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Corey Brewer.

Photo Credit: Alan Diaz/Associated Press

1 » As OGGOA mentioned two weeks ago, former Florida Gators guard/forward Corey Brewer is much improved one year after returning from surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament. Brewer is playing so well for the Minnesota Timberwolves, in fact, that he is in the running for the NBA’s 2010 Most Improved Player award. “It’s a confidence thing,” Brewer said of his improvement. “My rookie year was tough because I was going from one extreme system to another extreme system. I didn’t know where I could fit in. [...] That’s why I loved Florida because we pressed, I got to get out on the break, got a lot of dunks. Now to be able to do it in the NBA, to actually get some highlights, it’s good.”

Brewer also told The Gainesville Sun that he keeps a close eye on the Gators and is hopeful for the future. “They need a few more players,” he said. “Coach [Bill Donovan] has been doing a good job. Austin Rivers is going to be really good when he comes up. The big kid from Jacksonville [Patric Young] coming in, I like him. And then my man, Casey [Prather], he’s from Tennessee. I like him, athletic 6-4.”

Three more BITS on UF connections in the MLB, NCAAs and PGA…after the jump!

2 » Recovering from injuries to his toe and hip, former Florida first baseman Matt LaPorta has been named a starter for the Cleveland Indians this season. LaPorta, who batted .254 with seven home runs, 21 RBI, 46 hits, 29 runs and 12 walks in 181 plate appearances in 52 games after a late call-up in 2009, is happy to return to the infield after mostly playing left field last season.

3 » Donnie Jones, a former assistant basketball coach to Donovan with the Gators from 1996-2007, left in that final year to take over as head coach of the Marshall Thundering Herd. After compiling a 55-41 record in three seasons, Jones has been hired by the Central Florida Knights to take over their program. “Donnie Jones is an excellent coach, a phenomenal recruiter and a great person,” UCF athletic director Keith Tribble said. “We are thrilled to welcome Donnie and his family to Orlando and the UCF Athletics community. Donnie has a vision for this program that includes attracting top-notch student-athletes and competing for championships. He is the right coach to lead UCF men’s basketball to the next level.”

4 » Chris Couch used to be a golfer at Florida. He also used to have to personally write Arnold Palmer for an invitation to Bay Hill (and did so for 18 years). This weekend, Couch found himself in the final pairing at the tournament and had Palmer watching him in person as he putted on the 18th hole. He would finish the Arnold Palmer Invitational in fourth but was happy to experience what he did. “I think that was a little bit inspired by not getting an exemption all those years,” Couch said. “I wanted to prove to Arnie that I love this golf course and that I play well out here.”

Photo Credit: Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

By the way, this was ESPN SportsCenter‘s Top Play:

After being attended to by team trainers, Terry returned to the court to score seven of his 26 total points. However, his eye was swollen shut after the game and surgery will keep him out of action for at least a week, maybe longer.

ADAM SILVERSTEIN: The biggest thing going for you right now has to be your selection to your first NBA All-Star Game. How did it feel to earn that honor in only your third season in the league?
AL HORFORD: “It’s a real honor to be nominated to that game. The coaches really have a lot of weight into that decision, and I felt really special that they picked me over a lot of other guys.”

AS: The NBA has been utilizing you to help grow its product abroad. Do you feel any extra pressure in this regard?
AH: “Not really. I think if anything, it’s good. It’s something that, even when I played at Florida, I wanted to put myself in the position to be able to come and play in the NBA. It just feels a good to be a part of the league and a good team.”

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

AS: A lot of players dominate in college and then regress in the pros against better competition. Not only have you maintained your production, in many ways you have improved. How have you been able to accomplish that?
AH: “When I got to Florida, I did a lot of work to get better as a player with Coach [Billy] Donovan and Coach [Anthony] Grant, when he was there. And I just progressively got better every year like some of my other teammates who were with me. I think the key with the NBA is I’m still staying hungry, I feel like I can get a lot better still. I’m still working on my game. I have not reached my full potential yet. I think that’s why I’m able to improve every year.”

AS: You played high school basketball in Michigan. What was it about the University of Florida that made you decide to play there?
AH: “To be honest, it was taking that official visit and seeing Gainesville and the campus for myself. I was really sold as soon as I came in – the nice campus and the buildings and the palm trees and everything. I fell in love with that. I never told Coach that. I tried to act tough on my visit, but I knew that I wanted to go there as soon as I saw all of that. I really liked it. To top it off, I got to hang out with Corey Brewer and Taurean Green for my official visit, and I had met Joakim [Noah] – I played with him early in the summer – so I had a chance to spend some time with him, I knew he was going there. It made my decision a lot easier.”

AS: How often do you get a chance to speak with Coach Donovan?
AH: “I talk to him probably once a month. Lately, we’ve been texting a lot more. I always keep up with the Gators – basketball and football.”

AS: Have you been able to watch a lot of Gators basketball this season? From what you have seen, what do they need to work on to be a tournament-caliber team?
AH: “I’ve been able to watch quite a bit. They’ve been on TV more up here. I feel like they’re heading in the right direction now. They are still growing and learning, but I think the bigs really have to pick their game up consistently in order for them to have any chance of making the tournament.”

AS: If you were in Gainesville on Coach Donovan’s staff and had the chance to work with Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin, how would you coach them up?
AH: “I would tell them to go out there and just play hard and do the things that Coach is telling them to do. Coach is experienced, he’s been there, and he’s looking out for their best interests. [They should not] worry so much about their individual numbers and stuff, just go out there do the things to impact winning – defending, rebounding, blocking shots. From all that, I think that will generate offense for them. That is something that every player looks for. Me and Joakim looked for that when we were there. We followed what Coach had to tell us. We believed in him, and I think that made the biggest difference for our team.”

AS: Finally, how did you end up in Ciara’s “Never Ever” music video last year? Is there anything your fans need to know about that?
AH: [Laughing] “Man, that was crazy. She came to one of my games last year, and I guess she saw me on the court. She got a hold of my agent and sent the information over that she would for like me to participate in her next video. My agent talked to me about it, and as soon as he brought it up, I was like ‘Yeah!’ You always want to be a part of a music video – that was always my thing. So I was so excited, I was like ‘Yeah, I’ll do it!’ I guess she went to the game and saw me and thought that I’d be a good look for the video.” Ciara’s “Never Ever” Music Video (skip to 4:29).

Horford will appear in his first NBA All-Star Game on Sun., Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. on TNT.

2 » Freshman guard Kenny Boynton has the star power, sophomore point guard Erving Walker is hitting daggers from downtown, junior forward Chandler Parsons is nailing remarkable buzzer-beating game-winners and junior transfer center Vernon Macklin brings the size…so what exactly is junior F Alex Tyus’ role? Tyus is, simply put, the most consistent player on the team. He has scored double figures in 11 straight games with 15+ points in six of those contests all while being a terror in the paint and averaging almost eight rebounds per game. Through the ups and downs of the season, Tyus has been the constant either keeping the Gators in games or helping them pull off routs. He’s even been hitting three-pointers. “I feel like I’m understanding my role a little more,” Tyus told Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun. “I’m more comfortable.” If Tyus continues playing at this level, a triumvirate of himself, Boynton and Walker could very well propel Florida to its first March Madness birth in three seasons.

Four more BITS on Corey Brewer, Tim Tebow and more after the jump!

3 » The transition to the NBA has been relatively easy for former Gators F/Cs Al Horford and Joakim Noah with the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls, respectively. The same cannot be said about G/F Corey Brewer of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Brewer began his professional career hitting only 23 of 102 attempted three-pointers (22.5 percent) through 130 games. However, since nailing a thrilling trey a few weeks ago and following it up with a buzzer-beater, Brewer has been on a tare. Over his last 10 games, he has taken 42 shots from downtown and converted 22 of them (52 percent). By all accounts, Brewer is finding his shooter’s touch, something he wondered if he would ever recover after missing the majority of the 2008-09 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The reference article claims that a shooter has been born, but in Brewer’s case, it is more like a shooter was resurrected.

4 » The upcoming Super Bowl XLIV advertisement from Focus on the Family featuring former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is still causing controversy – even former Vice Presidential candidate and noted Republican Sarah Palin weighed in on it. Tebow still doesn’t understand what the fuss is about. “[The ad is] just me and my mom showing our love for each other, and that’s pretty much what it’s about,” Tebow said. “I don’t think it’s anything that’s negative or anything like that. I think [the Super Bowl is] a good time and place when there’s a lot of people watching, and I think it’s a great opportunity to show something very happy and a special story and my mom fighting for me. I think there are a lot of great things in that. I think, if anything, [teams will] like that I took a stand on what I believe. If that’s something that would hesitate them from bringing me on, then it probably wouldn’t be a good fit for me in the first place because I’m never going to deny what I believe in just for a game.”

5 » Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb offers Tebow some advice:

6 » Gators baseball has earned a No. 7 ranking in Baseball America’s NCAA Division I baseball preseason poll. The team plays its first game of the 2010 season against the South Florida Bulls on Feb. 19 at McKethan Stadium.