All Time Florida Basketball Starting Five

MidwestChomp

Fun was the goal and we hit the bullseye
Lifetime Member
Sep 15, 2014
10,248
13,907
I didn't go through all 11 pages, but I don't think anyone has mentioned these. They're not all time greats, but they played key roles for Final 4 teams.
Cross
Craig Brown
Prather
B Wright
P. Young
Prather is a great example of what can happen when you stick it out and wait. What a senior year he had.

Young is a great example of buying into the coaches. He came in thinking he would be a 2 year max player and an offensive dynamo. Billy turned him into a monster defender and all heart player. Billy said Young was the best pick and roll defender he ever had.

Both those guys are great Gators and feel bad they didn't win it all.
 

cover2

Founding Member
I've grown old
Lifetime Member
Jun 12, 2014
8,833
32,019
Founding Member
Can you tell me what happened? I was in undergrad school in Virginia and in those days you did not hear much about SEC basketball up there.

Not that this is not out of left field but Chapman had such a great first game and had his career so quickly diminished by bone spurs that I have always wondered how great he would have been.
Glad to. Moody was being heavily recruited by us and F$U. I think he got a lot of hometown push to attend UF and off he went. One story claimed his mom got a washer and dryer in the deal, but who knows? He played for the freshmen team, but scored 40+ against the varsity in a preseason game. He was thought to be the next big thing in college hoops by many and maybe the best that UF had seen. Problems started second semester. He wasn't the greatest student, but I believe there were also class attendance problems and just like that he was ineligible. Wound up transferring to a school out in Louisiana, Dillard maybe, and had one of his eyes put out in an off-campus incident (night club). The story continued that he got his academic act together and the early plan was to try and get back to UF, but the missing eye was a liability and he wound up staying in Louisiana.

Despite the eye, he was still better than most players of his day, but his outside shot wasn't as accurate as it once was (depth perception issue). I think he got a try-out with a pro team (Pistons I think), but the eye kept him from making it on their roster. He came back to Gadsden county and played for a long time with a semi-pro bunch called Rackley's Raiders that featured a bunch ex-college guys (Greg Grady and Ron King from FSU, John Billips from MissSt, Nathan Hayes and Monk Davis from Stillman to name a few). They were good and beat just about everybody they played, from teams made up of collegians to armed forces, etc. Everybody still loved to watch Moody. He could still run and jump and was good for a couple of highlight reel dunks, rebounds, and blocked shots each game. The last time I saw him play, he was in his 40's and was still killing the younger guys. His lower body looked like a thoroughbred race horse.

One of the best things about him was he was a nice guy to everybody he met. As good as he was (the man on three consecutive state championship teams), he wasn't arrogant at all. Really wish it all would have panned out for him at UF. He'd be right up there on that "best five" list I believe. He was 6'3" and could get his hand up to the top of the glass. Very other-worldly back in the early '70's.
 

Ocalaman

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2018
756
1,029
Andy Owens from Punta Gorda was a great one. Great scorer and rebounder. Went on to become judge.

Gary Keller was a good forward.

Jerry Hoover from Benton, Illinois was a very good point guard. Played on the same high school team as Rich Yunkus who went on to be one of the all time great basketball players at Georgia Tech. Even before Hoover there was Skip Higley.

Anybody remember Tony Miller? He could hit it from downtown Gainesville. If they only had the three point shot back then.
I remember all those guys and you're right - Tony Miller could flat out shoot it. Chip Williams was another great player for us. Gene Shy, also. Both good around the basket, great scorers and rebounders. And what about Richard Glasper, all time leader in steals per game and 2nd all time in assists per game.
 

Ocalaman

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2018
756
1,029
Lol

You're right about them not being in the same class though. Although they share an affinity for marijuana, one was a lottery pick and the other couldn't get drafted.
Williams won nothing, got no SEC or All-America accolades, is not listed in any career categories and by his selfish choices abandoned his team midway through the only SEC season he played at UF. Good for him that he was a lottery pick. Doesn't change the fact that he is a non-factor in Gator basketball history. He let down his team in the middle of the SEC season. Scottie was a 4 year player, was SEC player of the year his senior season, led the team to the SEC title and Final 4. Made some mistakes, paid his dues and never missed an SEC game. His teammates respected him and played hard under his leadership. He's without a doubt an all time Gator great. 5th in games played, 8th in assists, 7th in steals. As far as all time GATOR greats, Wilbekin is miles ahead of Jason Williams.
 

Theologator

Enchanter
Lifetime Member
Aug 11, 2015
8,248
15,806
Not that this is not out of left field but Chapman had such a great first game and had his career so quickly diminished by bone spurs that I have always wondered how great he would have been.

Do you mean Lakeland Kathleen’s Livingston Chatman? He was indeed a great player and the bone spurs held him back.

Have to wonder if today’s orthopedics would have been better able to treat that.

That era brings to mind Clifford Lett, who was also great if underrated player.
 

InstiGATOR1

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Mar 27, 2016
4,890
3,201
He came back to Gadsden county and played for a long time with a semi-pro bunch called Rackley's Raiders that featured a bunch ex-college guys.

Thanks, that is an interesting story. I wonder if the LA school was Degado Community College. That would make more sense if he was trying to get his academic house in order to transfer back.

BTW, wasn't Johnny Walker of Sloan's famous class that also included Ramos and Portillo of which none panned out also from a small panhandle county. I think Walker ended up at Miss. State.
 

InstiGATOR1

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Mar 27, 2016
4,890
3,201
Williams won nothing, got no SEC or All-America accolades, is not listed in any career categories and by his selfish choices abandoned his team midway through the only SEC season he played at UF. Good for him that he was a lottery pick. Doesn't change the fact that he is a non-factor in Gator basketball history. He let down his team in the middle of the SEC season. Scottie was a 4 year player, was SEC player of the year his senior season, led the team to the SEC title and Final 4. Made some mistakes, paid his dues and never missed an SEC game. His teammates respected him and played hard under his leadership. He's without a doubt an all time Gator great. 5th in games played, 8th in assists, 7th in steals. As far as all time GATOR greats, Wilbekin is miles ahead of Jason Williams.

I agree with you but with no animus towards either player. To me it just comes down to who did what, not who burned brightly for few games.
 

Bernardo de la Paz

Founding Member
Florida Victorious Member
Lifetime Member
Jun 12, 2014
5,369
9,293
Founding Member
As far as all time GATOR greats, Wilbekin is miles ahead of Jason Williams.
You can pick your team based on whatever criteria you want. Most games played, had the best teammates, called his mother every day at 6pm, whatever. It's your prerogative.

I picked my team based on the best basketball players.
 

deuce

Founding Member
"Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war."
Lifetime Member
Jun 11, 2014
6,891
6,162
Founding Member
Andy Owens from Punta Gorda was a great one. Great scorer and rebounder. Went on to become judge.

Gary Keller was a good forward.

Jerry Hoover from Benton, Illinois was a very good point guard. Played on the same high school team as Rich Yunkus who went on to be one of the all time great basketball players at Georgia Tech. Even before Hoover there was Skip Higley.

Anybody remember Tony Miller? He could hit it from downtown Gainesville. If they only had the three point shot back then.

Owens was from Tampa, played at Hillsborough High School.
 

cover2

Founding Member
I've grown old
Lifetime Member
Jun 12, 2014
8,833
32,019
Founding Member
Thanks, that is an interesting story. I wonder if the LA school was Degado Community College. That would make more sense if he was trying to get his academic house in order to transfer back.

BTW, wasn't Johnny Walker of Sloan's famous class that also included Ramos and Portillo of which none panned out also from a small panhandle county. I think Walker ended up at Miss. State.
I think it was Dillard and that UF helped arrange the deal, but it's been a long time and many of those in the know locally have passed on.

Johnny was, indeed, to be a part of the recruiting class you mentioned, but as I recall there was a flag on one of his tests and he was voided from the class. Interesting that he wound up at another SEC school with the testing issue! Johnny wound up playing in South America before returning to Gadsden county. I knew him as a player when I was officiating and got to know him better when he worked as a paraprofessional at the elementary school I was at. He's another good guy that should have been a Gator, but got tripped up on the way with some bad choices. Johnny's a police officer in Tallahassee last time I ran into him and is a good family man. Things worked out.
 

78

Founding Member
Dazed and Confused
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
19,745
27,635
Founding Member
Williams won nothing, got no SEC or All-America accolades, is not listed in any career categories and by his selfish choices abandoned his team midway through the only SEC season he played at UF. Good for him that he was a lottery pick. Doesn't change the fact that he is a non-factor in Gator basketball history. He let down his team in the middle of the SEC season. Scottie was a 4 year player, was SEC player of the year his senior season, led the team to the SEC title and Final 4. Made some mistakes, paid his dues and never missed an SEC game. His teammates respected him and played hard under his leadership. He's without a doubt an all time Gator great. 5th in games played, 8th in assists, 7th in steals. As far as all time GATOR greats, Wilbekin is miles ahead of Jason Williams.
That calls into question the goal of the thread. Was it to identify the players by years of service and the appearance of selflessness or simply by who was best at his position?

I chose the latter.
 

Ocalaman

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2018
756
1,029
That calls into question the goal of the thread. Was it to identify the players by years of service and the appearance of selflessness or simply by who was best at his position?

I chose the latter.
The OP said to pick our all time starting Gator 5. That leaves the criteria open to interpretation. But since it is a Gator team, I would choose not the players who had the most success in the NBA after their time at UF, but those who were the best players at Florida. In my mind, someone who played only 20 games (12-8 record) and is nowhere in the Gator record books doesn't qualify. But that's just me. It's all subjective no matter how you cut it. To each his own. And I think you put Wilbekin on your 1st team. That's cool. I didn't have him that high, but to me has was definitely up there.
 

78

Founding Member
Dazed and Confused
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
19,745
27,635
Founding Member
The OP said to pick our all time starting Gator 5. That leaves the criteria open to interpretation. But since it is a Gator team, I would choose not the players who had the most success in the NBA after their time at UF, but those who were the best players at Florida. In my mind, someone who played only 20 games (12-8 record) and is nowhere in the Gator record books doesn't qualify. But that's just me. It's all subjective no matter how you cut it. To each his own. And I think you put Wilbekin on your 1st team. That's cool. I didn't have him that high, but to me has was definitely up there.
Google Williams' 1997-98 Florida stats and tell me if another UF point guard matches what he did offensively over two-thirds of a season. You can't.

As a leader and on-ball defender, I hand it to Wilbekin. With the ball in his hands, Jason Williams is the most talented player at ANY position to ever wear the Orange & Blue.
 

GatorJ

Founding Member
Hopeful
Moderator
Jun 11, 2014
20,998
33,558
Founding Member
You can pick your team based on whatever criteria you want. Most games played, had the best teammates, called his mother every day at 6pm, whatever. It's your prerogative.

I picked my team based on the best basketball players.
I forgot was Livingston Chapman one of your forwards? He was certainly among the best basketball players ever the first game of his Frosh season, then immediately the bone spurs started.

Man Donnell Harvey was really special too. His tournament run was awesome.
 

78

Founding Member
Dazed and Confused
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
19,745
27,635
Founding Member
Man Donnell Harvey was really special too. His tournament run was awesome.
Yes it was. He was a physical specimen, a beast on the boards and a dunk machine. Unfortunately for him, he made an awful decision to turn pro after one season. He was raw and totally unready.
 

Okeechobee Joe

Lost Ball in High Grass
Lifetime Member
Oct 5, 2014
7,088
16,032
Owens was from Tampa, played at Hillsborough High School.

Thanks for the correction on that. I don’t know how I came up with Punta Gorda. Weird. Owens was a great player who has been largely forgotten. In his day he was somewhat overshadowed by Neal Walk and with the passage of time he has faded into the background.
 

MidwestChomp

Fun was the goal and we hit the bullseye
Lifetime Member
Sep 15, 2014
10,248
13,907
This thread has gotten better. Love reading through the original posts and the new posts. Well done ya'll.
 

Ocalaman

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2018
756
1,029
Google Williams' 1997-98 Florida stats and tell me if another UF point guard matches what he did offensively over two-thirds of a season. You can't.

As a leader and on-ball defender, I hand it to Wilbekin. With the ball in his hands, Jason Williams is the most talented player at ANY position to ever wear the Orange & Blue.
Nick Calethas was very close to matching all Williams number in regards to average points, field goal percentage, steals and assists per game and he played 2 full years. I agree that Williams was super talented, like a Harlem Globetrotter. Just not my type of player and like I've said before there are probably 15 points guards who have played for Florida that I would rather have on my team than him.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Help Users

You haven't joined any rooms.