An offseason basketball thread

BMF

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Jordan Mitchell talks
about the Florida Gators


http://www.gatorcountry.com/florida...rdan-mitchell-talks-about-the-florida-gators/


Class of 2019 Jordan Mitchell (6’7 200lb Montverde Academy) has been a name that has been heating up this spring. Mitchell plays for the All-Ohio Red squad in the EYBL circuit who has put themselves in a great position heading into the Peach Jam. Mitchell caught up with GatorCountry.com to talk about the Peach Jam and his recruiting process.

Getting out in the open court and making plays in transition is a strength that stands out when watching Mitchell play.

“My style of play is I like to get out and run in transition,” Mitchell said. “My strengths are I can do whatever you need me to do on the floor like attacking the rim and creating opportunities for guys to have open shots. Things I need to work on is getting stronger and improving quickness and explosiveness.”

The impressive play from Mitchell this spring has helped his All-Ohio Red team grab a top 4 seed in the Peach Jam.

“The AAU season has been going good,” he said. “We are one of the top 4 seeds for the Peach Jam with a record of 13-3. I’m excited to keep playing and getting better. I think that I’ve been playing really good.”

Mitchell will play for perennial powerhouse Montverde Academy(FL) this season. Mitchell is eager to make an impact from the get go and help lead the program to another championship.

“My upcoming goal for this next upcoming season is to help Montverde Academy get its 4th National Championship this year,” Mitchell said. “I am also looking to play to the best of my ability every game and do what I can to help my team.”

Florida is one of the schools that is involved in the recruitment of Mitchell. Mitchell loves the Gator’s style of play and hopes to visit Gainesville soon to check things out.

“I haven’t met anyone personally yet from the coaching staff, but I will be going on a visit soon to become more comfortable with the coaching staff,” he said. “I like the style of play a lot and they recruit a lot of long guys that defend well and play well on both ends of the floor. One thing that stands out to me is the team’s togetherness. You can see it when you watch them on Tv. It really looks like a great brotherhood. I also love the way they play in transition.”

Mitchell has no leaders right now and looks to take his time with his decision and get to know the coaching staffs of the schools recruiting him.
“West Virginia, Kansas, Indiana, OSU, Xavier, Florida, Michigan, Iowa, and some others I can’t think of right now are recruiting me hard,” Mitchell said. “They all have the same effect on me right now.”
 

BMF

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One last look at the NBA Mock Drafts
Devin Robinson on Thursday looks to be the first Florida men’s basketball player to be taken in the NBA draft since Bradley Beal in 2012. Here’s where various outlets have him going on the eve of the draft:

 

Jbossgator8

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Devin Robinson NOT drafted in the first round. TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT to leave school early and not get the guaranteed money in the 1st round. He is going to have to REALLY FIGHT hard to get a roster spot now. Next stop OVERSEAS for him most likely....
 

MertzJay26

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Devin Robinson NOT drafted in the first round. TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT to leave school early and not get the guaranteed money in the 1st round. He is going to have to REALLY FIGHT hard to get a roster spot now. Next stop OVERSEAS for him most likely....

Unfortunately he would be 23 as a SR next year. It was now or never. Let's hope he goes in the second and is the next Parsons.
 

BMF

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FLORIDA GATORS BASKETBALL
OFFERS CHARLES SMITH IV


http://www.gatorcountry.com/florida...da-gators-basketball-offers-charles-smith-iv/



It has been a busy past week for members of the 2019 recruiting class as college coaches could start contacting them on June 15th. 6’5 guard Charles Smith IV from LaLumiere(IN) has been very busy as college coaches from all over the country are contacting him. Smith caught up with GatorCountry.com to talk about his recruiting process and his recent offer from the Florida Gators.

Smith prides himself in being an effective scorer on the offensive end and being a solid on ball defender on the defensive end.

“I feel like I’m a very good scorer and on ball defender,” Smith said. “Some things I need to work on before college are my strength, ball handling, and more efficient shooting.”

Smith plays for Basketball University(TX) in the Adidas Gauntlet circuit. The team and Smith look to make noise during the July period.

“I’ve played fairly well so far,” he said on his play during AAU season. “My shot hasn’t been falling the way I’ve wanted it to do this summer, but that’s been something I have been working to make better. As a team in the gauntlet I think we’re 3-5 and we’ve played pretty well as a team. In the 2nd session we didn’t have our 5 star Quentin Grimes, so it really helped the rest of us find roles and help us all contribute. In the July period I just want to continue getting better and showing everyone what all I can do.”

The Florida Gators have been impressed in what they see in Smith and offered the talented guard on Thursday.

“I’m really excited to have a Florida offer and to be recruited by a program with such a high reputation and a great history of having great players and coaches,” Smith said. “Florida is a great program. Coach Mike White is a great coach and he lets his players play.”

The recruitment of Smith is starting to take off as programs are starting to see his upside and play making ability.

“It’s early in the process but some of the teams recruiting me hard are Florida, California, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Arizona, Purdue, UCLA, and USC.”
 

BMF

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UF basketball players Egbunu, Stokes on the mend

http://www.gatorsports.com/article/...-basketball-players-Egbunu-Stokes-on-the-mend

Florida’s two injured big men, including starting center John Egbunu, are on schedule to return at some point early in the 2017-18 season, UF basketball coach Mike White said Monday.

Egbunu and true freshman forward/center Isaiah Stokes are both recovering from ACL surgery.

“They’re right on track. They’re doing what they’re supposed to do,” White said on the summer SEC coaches’ teleconference. “They’ve been consistent with their treatments. (Trainer) Duke Werner is optimistic about the track that they’re on. I don’t know that that speeds anything up. We’re going to be patient and make sure 100 percent before they’re released to compete.

“I think we’re looking at, just very ballpark figures here off the top of my head, at December for Isaiah and January for John.”

Egbunu injured his knee in February and missed the Gators’ Elite Eight run in the NCAA Tournament.

Egbunu and the 273-pound Stokes are expected to provide a big, physical inside presence when they return. UF’s inside depth was stretched to the limit after Egbunu went down last season.

The Gators are expected to have a significantly different look next season with the addition of transfers Jalen Hudson (Virginia Tech) and Egor Koulechov (Rice) and four incoming freshmen — Stokes, guard DeAundae Bullard, forward Chase Johnson and guard Michael Okauru.

The 2017-18 team came together for the first time Monday with the start of the Summer B semester.

“It’s exciting that today is the first day of Summer B where our entire team is enrolled,” White said. “First day of workouts. Strength and conditioning starting today. We’ll have a couple of workouts on the court later on this week. Initial meeting. It’s always an exciting time. For all of us coaches, it’s exciting to get your newcomers finally on campus.

“I think they’re all going to have an opportunity. I tell the guys all the time, you decide playing time, I don’t. We’re going to play the guys that give us the best chance to be successful. They’re all going to be given an opportunity.”

The newcomers who figure most likely to have an immediate impact are Hudson and Koulechov. Hudson practiced with the Gators last season while sitting out after his transfer from the ACC. Koulechov, a graduate transfer, averaged 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds a game at Rice this past season.

“You’ve got to probably start with Egor because of the fact that he’s older,” White said. “He came as a graduate transfer as a guy we thought could make an immediate impact, and obviously he thought the same thing. He’s got lots of experience. It would probably start with him, then Jalen Hudson, of course. He’s got high-level Division I experience in the ACC for a couple of years, coming off a sit-out year.

“We’re thrilled with our four freshmen. It will all depend on how quickly they can adjust. About a week into practice, we’ll probably have a better idea on those guys, and a really good idea about a month into practice.”

NOTE: White was asked what his new contract extension means to him. “It means that I can continue sending my kids to the school that I’m sending them,” he said. “Overall, it’s one of the things you’re looking for as a coach if you’re at a place that you really like. You want to be wanted, you want to have stability and you want to have continuity. For myself, personally speaking, my wife and kids are very, very comfortable where we are and we’re happy. We’re happy that they’re happy with us.” White’s new deal will pay him $16.3 million overall through 2023.
 

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Welcome Back: Summer Hoops in Full Swing
The start of Summer "B" means the start of offseason workouts and conditioning.


http://floridagators.com/news/2017/6/27/chris-harry-welcome-back-summer-hoops-in-full-swing.aspx

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 2017-18 Florida basketball team will have a lot of similar faces, but five new ones rolled into town and into the program this week.

The start of the Summer "B" semester means mandatory reporting for the players, who by Monday had checked in with their coaches, registered for classes and -- following a welcome-back meeting with Mike White and his staff -- dived head first into offseason training Monday.

The Gators return six players from the last season's squad that went 27-9 and advanced to the Elite Eight, including a pair of starters in shooting guard/scoring leader KeVaughn Allen and center Kevarrius Hayes, both juniors, plus senior point guard Chris Chiozza, the hero of UF's buzzer-beating defeat of Wisconsin in the Sweet 16.

NCAA rules allow two hours per week of on-court activities this time of year. The Gators prefer to break the time up into three separate (and lively) 40-minute periods.

"This is the most important time of the year, right here," said Chiozza, who like like several other teammates took the Summer "A" semester off. "The six-to-12 weeks in the summer, that's when everybody's body changes, when people grow and getting stronger, and skills get more developed."

Two players who sat out last season, Virginia Tech transfer wing Jalen Hudson and medical redshirt freshman forward Dontay Bassett, are also part of the 13-scholarship roster. Hudson, a gifted scorer, practiced all last season with the scout team, while Bassett sat out the year rehabbing from foot surgery, but last week was cleared for all on-court activities and full contact.

In addition, UF will add a four-member freshman class, plus Rice transfer Egor Koulechov, a combo forward who as a graduate transfer is eligible to play right away.

Most of the players were here over the weekend and got the first chance to play pick-up together Sunday.

"You're kind of feeling each other out a little, getting to know who's who," Koulechov said. "It's part of becoming a team."

Part of the arrival process is getting official heights and weights. Here are some numbers for the new guys:
  • Koulechov (Volograd, Russia) — 6-foot-5, 201 pounds. He'll wear jersey No. 4.
  • DeAundrae Ballard (guard/forward, Atlanta) — 6-5, 190. Jersey No. 24.
  • Chase Johnson (forward, Ripley, W.Va.) — 6-8 1/2, 202. Jersey No. 1.
  • Mike Okauru (guard, Raleigh, N.C.) — 6-3, 177. Jersey No. 0.
  • Isaiah Stokes (forward, Memphis, Tenn.) — 6-8, 298. Jersey No. 2.

  • RETURN OF BIG JOHN

    He toyed with the idea of turning professional, but after some soul-searching and consulting with people at the next level, center John Egbunu, who graduated in May, opted to return to the Gators for a fifth-year senior season.

    The 6-11, 255-pound Egbunu suffered a season-ending knee injury Feb. 14 at Auburn and underwent surgery several weeks later. He is now about two months removed from getting off crutches and Monday re-entered the weight room for the first time to began work on his upper body.

    "It's definitely exciting to be back," said Egbunu, who averaged 7.8 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds in 24 games, including 19 starts, during '16-17. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity for this season and all the guys coming back. I'm glad I'm here. I want to do whatever I can to help prepare myself and my teammates for the upcoming season, the grind of it. I want to be a leader. I want to tell them how it's supposed to be and help instill the culture early."

    For now, the most important thing for Egbunu is getting healthy. He's doing his part on that front with trainer David "Duke" Werner and now will fold some lifting into the equation. He's also very close to resuming a running schedule on a gravity treadmill.

    As for true basketball activities, it will be some time before Egbunu can play, but there are some things — like form shooting, free throws and touch shots sans jumping — that he can do to prepare for his final season. These are things the pro evaluators encouraged Egbunu to work on in advising him to get healthy and return to school. There will be other things also, such building on the great ball-screen defense he was playing at the time of his injury and focusing on rebounding and rim-protecting and letting offense find him in this, his final collegiate season.

    "Obviously, it's a long journey," he said.


    FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE FOR HOOPS

    Koulechov figures to be this season's version of a Canyon Barry; an impact transfer with some very defined skills that will help the Gators, both at the small and power forward spots.

    All he did at Rice last year was average 18.2 points per game to go with 8.9 rebounds, while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor, an astonishing 47.4 from the 3-point arc and 81.9 from the free-throw line. He'll be a welcome addition to a front court that said goodbye to starters Justin Leon, a senior, and Devin Robinson, who left following his junior season to turn pro.

  • Koulechov had a list of suitors, but ultimately chose the Gators over Oklahoma. Though born in Russia and with family in Israel, he actually attended high school in South Florida, so he had a level of comfort with coming back.

    "It just feels good to be back in Florida. It was the first state I came to when I came to the [U.S.] six years ago," he said. "So far, I like it. Great coaches, great players, great atmosphere."

    Now, it's about fitting in.

    "I believe i made the right choice coming here and being a part of something great," Koulechov said. "We want to keep this thing going and go as far as we can. Everybody has a role to play. It starts now."


    FREE THROWS

    Like Egbunu, Stokes is coming off reconstructive knee surgery, but he is doing drills in the workouts. … Hayes has built himself up to 225 pounds, with an eye toward 240. Don't worry. The extra weight has not affected his agility, mobility or athleticism. It will, however, help him bang better with Yante Maten and the like. … Speaking of body changes, sophomore Keith Stone continues to reshape his. This is a big season for third-year forward, as far as showing the coaches a pattern of consistency from one practice to the next, one game to the next. His 12 minutes per game are the only returning minutes at the forward position on the entire roster. …Since he arrived on campus 10 days ago, Ballard has shown up at the gym to shoot with one of the team's managers every morning at 4 a.m. Well, almost every morning. "Every day but Sunday," Ballard said. "I give that day to the Lord." … In case you missed it, Robinson signed a free-agent deal with the Washington Wizards, Barry signed with the New York Knicks and Leon has a chance to catch on with Oklahoma City. No word yet on a summer landing spot for point guard Kasey Hill, but he figures to get a look somewhere.
 

MertzJay26

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"Since he arrived on campus 10 days ago, Ballard has shown up at the gym to shoot with one of the team's managers every morning at 4 a.m. Well, almost every morning. "Every day but Sunday," Ballard said. "I give that day to the Lord."

Looks like I've found my favorite player.
 

t-gator

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"Since he arrived on campus 10 days ago, Ballard has shown up at the gym to shoot with one of the team's managers every morning at 4 a.m. Well, almost every morning. "Every day but Sunday," Ballard said. "I give that day to the Lord."

Looks like I've found my favorite player.
Me too!
 

GatorBart

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A little mini-run of Khavon Moore to UF in the 247 chrystal ball:

http://247sports.com/Player/Khavon-Moore-84993

possibly backed up by an even bigger run of Nassir Little to St. Johns.
Little to St. Johns? What the hell is Mullin selling up there?
Still shows 57% for the good guys though.
http://247sports.com/Player/Nassir-Little-86026

Though I'm hoping we're not putting all of our eggs in one basket with Little at the small forward spot (he's the #37 player & #7 SF). I still see the local kid, Darius Days, as 86% to the Gators, but we haven't even offered him yet. Maybe there's a silent agreement or something? (Days is #82 overall & #20 SF).
http://247sports.com/Player/Darius-Days-89549
 

InstiGATOR1

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Little to St. Johns? What the hell is Mullin selling up there?
Still shows 57% for the good guys though.
http://247sports.com/Player/Nassir-Little-86026

Though I'm hoping we're not putting all of our eggs in one basket with Little at the small forward spot (he's the #37 player & #7 SF). I still see the local kid, Darius Days, as 86% to the Gators, but we haven't even offered him yet. Maybe there's a silent agreement or something? (Days is #82 overall & #20 SF).
http://247sports.com/Player/Darius-Days-89549

Well the reason I said "maybe backed up by.." in my first post is I have doubted that anyone gets both Moore and Little. For some reason Moore has dropped some this off season and Little has risen a good bit. Looking at their Nike/Adidas stats respectively, Nassir is having a better summer so far and Moore's stats appear a bit more like a PF than a SF, so maybe it is possible to get both
 

t-gator

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Little to St. Johns? What the hell is Mullin selling up there?
Still shows 57% for the good guys though.
http://247sports.com/Player/Nassir-Little-86026

Though I'm hoping we're not putting all of our eggs in one basket with Little at the small forward spot (he's the #37 player & #7 SF). I still see the local kid, Darius Days, as 86% to the Gators, but we haven't even offered him yet. Maybe there's a silent agreement or something? (Days is #82 overall & #20 SF).
http://247sports.com/Player/Darius-Days-89549
There is no silent agreement with Days. I can promise you. As of right now he's not going to Florida.
 

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