From time to time, OGGOA will come across a plethora of news and notes that we wish to share with our readers. In those instances, we present a special post: Gator Bites. Enjoy.

» Former Florida Gators forward/center David Lee of the Golden State Warriors was the subject of a piece by Harvey Araton of The New York Times on Monday. Lee, who has spent his whole career with the New York Knicks after they drafted him coming out of college, has a special bond with the team and has been the face of the franchise over the last few years. Read about how he went out of his way to represent the team (even after being traded to Golden State) at a funeral for longtime NBA and Madison Square Garden security official Scott Jaffer and how he will always be remembered in New York for being such an upstanding person.

» Interviewed by the NFL Network about his throwing mechanics, San Diego Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers went through the motions with some of the studio analysts on Monday. Because of the subject matter, Rivers was asked about Denver Broncos rookie QB Tim Tebow’s motion, and the veteran offered advice and insight into what Tebow may and may not need to do going forward.

» Florida should be excited about 2011 five-star shooting guard commitment Brad Beal (St. Louis, MO) – he could be the best player the team has signed since guard Nick Calathes. Then again, with one of the top players in the country considering his future in a different sport, there is a slight cause for concern. With his father and two brothers all having played collegiate football, Beal tells USA Today that he is “still trying to decide” which sport to play. “My brothers, especially my younger brothers, want me to play football so we can be on the same team,” Beal said. “But my mom always tells me, ‘You don’t have the body for football, so you have to stick to basketball.’” Don’t get it twisted – his future is on the court – not the field. Having a former Gators star like Lee (who also graduated from Chaminade High School) in his ear certainly helps. “We don’t have that much in common because we play different positions,” Beal said. “He came back to visit the school, and I talk to him during lunch period. He gave me input on the game.”

» While Beal is deciding what sport to play, four-star cornerback Nick Waisome (Groveland, FL) is just trying to figure out what school to end. According to the Orlando Sentinel’s Chris Hays, Waisome now considers his final five to Florida, Florida State, LSU, Georgia and South Carolina; he plans to decide in August.

» Updating a previous item, four-star wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (Belle Glade, FL) still considers the Gators to be the leader for his services, even after having Miami Hurricanes commitment four-star quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (Miami, FL) in his ear during the Nike 7-on-7 Championship last Saturday. “Florida is still in the lead,” Benjamin told SoFLAfootball.com. “I like Florida and what they showed me, how they would use me. I like Miami too and Florida State, so all the Florida teams, they’re really up there. But I like Florida.”

Three more BITES on Meyer, Smith and Werner…after the break!
Continue Reading » Gator Bites for Tuesday, July 20th

Tags: Brad Beal, Chris Bosh, Dan Werner, David Lee, Denver Broncos, Dwyane Wade, Emmitt Smith, Golden State Warriors, Kelvin Benjamin, Lane Kiffin, LeBron James, Luther Campbell, Madison Square Garden, Miami Heat, Miami Hurricanes, Mike Miller, NBA, New York Knicks, NFL, Nick Calathes, Nike, San Diego Chargers, Teddy Bridgewater, Tim Tebow, Udonis Haslem, Urban Meyer, USC Trojans, Walter Payton

Before he started his senior year of high school or prepared to join the Florida Gators in Gainesville, FL, as the team’s highest rated commitment since guard Nick Calathes, five-star 2011 recruit Brad Beal (St. Louis, MO) decided to represent his country by accepting a nomination to USA Basketball’s U-17 Men’s National Team in order to compete in the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship for Men in Germany.

With his team taking home the Gold Medal on Sunday by easily defeating Poland 111-80, Beal completed a stellar stretch in which he was his country’s most consistent player. For that, he was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament with 18.3 points per game and 47.7 percent shooting from downtown (31-of-65). Here are his individual statistics from the event:

Friday, July 2 – 82-70 win vs. Argentina
Beal: 11 points, 4-11 FG, 2-5 3-PT, 4 REB, 3 AST, 4 BLK, 3 STL [35 minutes]
Saturday, July 3 – 102-66 win vs. Lithuania
Beal: 16 points (team-high), 6-10 FG, 2-6 3-PT, 3 AST, 3 STL [24 minutes]
Monday, July 5 – 113-73 win vs. China
Beal: 20 points, 5-12 FG, 5-11 3-PT, 4 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL [22 minutes]
Tuesday, July 6 – 132-64 win vs. Egypt
Beal: 18 points (team-high), 6-10 FG, 4-7 3-PT, 3 REB, 2 AST, 2 BLK [17 minutes]
Wednesday, July 7 – 112-75 win vs. Serbia
Beal: 20 points (team-high), 8-14 FG, 2-7 3-PT, 3 REB, 2 STL [25 minutes]
Friday, July 9 – 105-70 win vs. Australia
Beal: 25 points (team-high), 8-13 FG, 7-9 3-PT, 3 REB [22 minutes]
Saturday, July 10 – 103-80 win vs. Canada
Beal: 17 points, 6-14 FG, 4-11 3-PT, 4 REB, 2 AST, 2 BLK, 5 STL [32 minutes]
Sunday, July 11 – 111-80 win vs. Poland
Beal: 19 points, 7-13 FG, 5-9 3-PT, 5 REB [31 minutes]

Joining Beal on the FIBA All-Tournament Five was five-star power forward James McAdoo, a heralded recruit and North Carolina commit.

Florida head coach Billy Donovan was in attendance for the final few games of the international competition, hoping to seal the deal on Beal’s commitment while scouting five-star small forward Adonis Thomas (Memphis, TN) and four-star PF Johnny O’Bryant (Cleveland, MS).

Photo Credits: FIBA

Tags: Adonis Thomas, All-Tournament Five, Billy Donovan, Brad Beal, FIBA, FIBA World Championship, James McAdoo, Johnny O'Bryant, Nick Calathes, USA, USA Basketball

Florida Gators junior forward Alex Tyus has submitted his name into the 2010 NBA Draft but will not to hire an agent. Tyus, who has until May 8 to remove his name from consideration if he should so choose, thought about transferring away from Florida last season but was convinced to stay by head coach Billy Donovan.

“Mainly, I just want to see where I stand [with the NBA Draft Advisory Committee],” Tyus told The Gainesville Sun. “I want to go through the process, getting a chance to meet with some teams, working out against other players, trying to get better.”

Tyus, who explained to The Sun that he will likely stay in Gainesville, FL, unless he is projected to be a first-round pick, is the third UF basketball player in as many years to submit his name for consideration (Marreese Speights – 2008, Nick Calathes – 2009).

“It’s definitely a situation where I’ll have to think quicker,” he said. “Making that decision, that’s not really the goal right now. I just want to work out and see how I can get better.”

Averaging 11.8 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds (tied with Chandler Parsons) in 2009-10, Tyus developed well as a forward this past season but will likely be told by teams that he needs another season to work on his game.

The Sun reports that “Tyus can begin to work out for NBA teams on April 25 and cannot miss class during workouts. But because UF’s classes are over, Tyus will be able to take part in mid-week workouts until May 8. Tyus would have to schedule some workouts between final exams from April 24-30.”

Photo Credit: Phil Sandlin/Associated Press

Tags: Alex Tyus, Billy Donovan, Chandler Parsons, Draft, Draft Advisory Board, Marreese Speights, NBA, Nick Calathes

With criticism surrounding him even after leading the Florida Gators to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in three seasons, head coach Billy Donovan sat down with radio host Steve Russell of the Sportscene program on WRUF 850 AM to discuss why players transfer, why he allows them to switch programs and why it is so difficult to replace them, especially on short notice.

Check out what head coach Billy Donovan had to say…after the break!
Continue Reading » Donovan on transfers, replacements, recruiting

Tags: Billy Donovan, David Huertas, Jai Lucas, John Wall, Nick Calathes, Ray Shipman

Coming off two consecutive trips to the National Invitational Tournament, the Florida Gators basketball team is looking to return to the glory it experienced just a few short years ago. With guard Nick Calathes leaving to play professional basketball in Greece and an influx of talented players, head coach Billy Donovan hopes to wipe the sour taste the last two seasons have put in fans’ mouths. With that, ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive presents our 2009-10 Florida Gators Basketball Preview.

STARTING FIVE:

PG Erving Walker – sophomore, 5’8”, 171 lbs.
2008 STATS: 10.1 PPG – 2.4 APG – .434 FG% – .419 3P% – 1.5 RPG – 23.1 MPG
A spark plug known more for his shooting and penetrating than passing, Walker was a pleasant surprise for the Gators in 2008. Starting the season as the team’s sixth man, he moved into the starting lineup at year’s end, earning a reputation as a sharp-shooter who could be trusted to put the ball in the hoop when the game was on the line. Walker was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team and led Florida in three-point percentage (.419). His breakout performance came against the Auburn Tigers, when he hit two late three pointers to help send the Gators to a 68-65 win. Walker must improve his ball handling, court vision and willingness to dish the ball in order to allow Boynton to move around and not be forced to play point.

G Kenny Boynton – freshman, 6’2”, 183 lbs.
2008 STATS (HS): 33 PPG – .58 FG%
Boynton is the pride of the Gators’ 2009 recruiting class, a consensus five-star guard who was ranked No. 9 overall on ESPN’s Top-100 list, No. 12 by Rivals and No. 15 by Scout. He is the 12th McDonald’s All-American signed by Donovan and the third-leading scorer in the history of Florida high school basketball. Quick both with and without the ball, Boynton is highly competitive and athletic with the ability to play either backcourt position. He can get his shot off at will, whether it be a quick pull up jumper, deep three-pointer, floater down the lane or penetrating layup. Boynton is also a tough defender who is strong with quick feet laterally. In his two games so far in the Orange and Blue, Boynton has averaged 23.5 points in 25.5 minutes.

The preview is a LOT longer than this. Read the rest after the jump…
Continue Reading » 2009-10 Florida Gators Basketball Preview

Tags: Alex Tyus, Billy Donovan, Chandler Parsons, Dan Werner, Erik Murphy, Erving Walker, Kenny Boynton, Kenny Kadji, Legends Classic, March Madness, NCAA, Nick Calathes, NIT, Orange Bowl Baksetball Classic, Ray Shipman, Rod Tishman, SEC/Big East Invitational, Vernon Macklin

When guard Nick Calathes chose to play in Greece instead of return for his junior season, Florida Gators head basketball coach Billy Donovan was left in a predicament. Because Calathes’ decision was made late into the recruiting process and many top prospects had already been thinking about other schools, Donovan was behind the eight ball in bringing in a young ball handler. Would he go with generously 5’6″ Erving Walker as his sole legitimate point guard or give some of the duties to five-star shooting guard commitment Kenny Boynton?

For the 2009-10 season, it will be a combination of Walker and Boynton handling the most of the duties at point, but Donovan took it upon himself to turn over every rock and find someone that could help in the future. That someone is 6’5″ freshman point guard Nimrod Tishman out of Tel Aviv, Israel.

Tishman, listed on the Florida roster and cleared to practice with the team, is still awaiting his approval by the NCAA Clearinghouse, which determines eligibility for all prospective NCAA Division I student-athletes. Part of the hold-up are Tishman’s military duties, which must be waived in writing by his homeland. Until he is officially cleared, Tishman will be unable to play in games. Donovan said he expects to hear about Tishman’s eligibility “well before” UF opens its season against Stetson, but the delay is hurting his chances of playing right away.

Tags: Billy Donovan, Erving Walker, Kenny Boynton, Nick Calathes, Nimrod Tishman

1 » It was reported that Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer was going to attend the Tampa Catholic high school football game Friday night, presumably to watch 4-star quarterback recruit Christian Green. Personally attending the No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas vs. No. 2 Byrnes game this evening, I spotted Meyer on the sideline in Fort Lauderdale, FL, along with former St. Thomas Aquinas safety Major Wright and right tackle Marcus Gilbert. Meyer was in attendance presumably to keep an eye on 4-star cornerback Cody Riggs, a heavy Gators lean. The Gators are off from practice until early next week. In the game, Riggs blocked and field goal and played decent coverage all night, except for turning around too soon and being taken advantage of for a touchdown late in the game. I am curious to find out if the St. Petersburg Times got the story wrong, or if Meyer chose to visit Riggs over Green, who the team is reportedly extremely interested in.

2 » No. 5/5 Florida Gators volleyball lost their first regular-season home game since 2004 in front of 3,820 fans at the O’Connell Center Friday night to the No. 15 Kentucky Wildcats. The Gators jumped out to an early lead before losing a heartbreaker to the Wildcats.

3 » Senior linebacker Ryan Stamper suffered two concussions during his younger years and is able to relate to what his quarterback, Tim Tebow, is going through in recovery. “Your head hurts a lot and you get a lot of rest,” Stamper said. “It all comes back to you though.”

4 » FOX Sports college basketball writer Jeff Goodman believes that the improved experience and talent of SEC teams will make the conference a contender in the national picture this season. He predicts the Florida Gators will finish fourth in the SEC East, due to losing guard Nick Calathes to Greek professional team Olympiakos. I am of the belief that Florida will actually improve this year without Calathes.

Tags: Christian Green, Cody Riggs, Nick Calathes, Ryan Stamper, Tim Tebow, volleyball