An offseason basketball thread

[LeeForThree]

BTW, I did read some place a claim that:

1. Johnson is a graduate transfer with 2 years of eligibility left.

2. Calipari coached Cameron Johnson's dad as an assistant at Pitt.

3. Calipari and Johnson are from the same home town.

So UK may be interested and might have a couple of legs up on everyone else. On the other hand UF has minutes for a front court player next year and is less likely to recruit some must play 30 minutes one and done to push him out after one year.

UK has offered him a spot and he indeed has 2 years of eligibility left. Everyone at UK thinks it's a done deal and he is going there. I think they will be left hanging though...as long as we have a spot avaliable

 

[InstiGATOR1]

I just checked and Cayon Barry had a pretty good Portsmouth Invitational Tourney. He scored 14 points a game and had a solid maybe even better rebounding performance.

 

[BMF]

https://brockway.blogs.gatorsports.com/13692/look-ufs-top-2018-targets/?tc=ar

Hoops Scoop
A look at UF’s top 2018 targets
Monday, May 1, 2017 at 3:54 by Kevin Brockway

The April evaluation period offered Florida basketball coaches a chance to get on the road and scout top prospects from the Class of 2018.

Florida’s Elite Eight run in its second season under Mike White showed that the Gator basketball program is healthy post Billy Donovan. As a result, UF has a chance to put together its best recruiting class under White.

White and has staff have done significant legwork on a number of four and five-star prospects in the 2018 class. Here’s a look at some of the top targets:

— Nassir Little, 6-6, 190 pound forward, Orlando Christian Academy: White and his staff began recruiting Little when they first arrived at UF in 2015. That relationship building and early identification of Little’s talent could pay dividends before signing day in November. Little is a rising four-star prospect who looked terrific last week at the Adidas Gauntlet in Fort Worth, Texas. But as a result, Little has generated interest from more schools throughout the country, including Notre Dame, Louisville, Cincinnati, St John’s, Wichita State, Creighton and Kansas. An Orange Park native, Little possesses the perimeter skills and defensive ability that would be an ideal fit in UF’s up-tempo, pressing style of play.

— Devon Dotson, 6-1, 170 pound point guard, Providence Day School, Charlotte, N.C.: Dotson visited Florida two weeks ago, which puts the Gators in a favorable position to land the explosive, four-star prospect. However, Kansas assistant coach Norm Roberts also has put in significant time to try to convince Dotson to become a Jayhawk. North Carolina, N.C. State and Arizona also have offered Dotson, so White and co. are going up against some bluebloods here. Dotson is a smaller guard, but makes up for it with elite speed with the ball and an ability to finish at the rim. Florida can sell Dotson on the chance to win the starting point guard job outright as a freshman in 2018-19 after Chris Chiozza departs at the end of next season.

— Emmitt Williams, 6-8, 210 pound forward, IMG Academy, Bradenton: An elite power forward prospect, Williams is a Phi Slamma Jamma throwback with his rim-rocking dunking ability. Williams averaged 22.8 points in four games over last weekend at an EYBL event in Indianapolis. LSU was considered the early frontrunner for Williams, but the departure of Johnny Jones has opened things back up for the five-star prospect who is ranked seventh nationally in ESPN.com’s latest 2018 top 60. Florida is in the mix here, and the Gators have a relationship with IMG’s coaches after signing IMG grad Isaiah Stokes to their 2017 class.

— Khavon Moore, 6-8, 185 pound forward, Westside High School, Macon, Ga. — Moore has offers from four SEC schools, Florida, Georgia, Auburn and LSU, plus an offer from in-state rival Florida State. A five-star prospect, Moore could also get an offer from Kentucky soon, as the ‘Cats are showing strong interest in the highly-skilled, athletic five-star wing player. Georgia Tech is making a push as well. Moore said he’s looking to play in an up-tempo system. Florida certainly fits that style of play.

— Elijah Weaver, 6-4, 195 pound point guard, Oldsmar Christian School — Weaver is a bigger point guard, and White and his staff have targeted bigger guards to get more size in the backcourt. Florida held off on an offer to Weaver until earlier this season. As a result, Villanova and Louisville are the two early leaders in the clubhouse. But there is time for Florida to make up some ground. A four-star prospect, Weaver may be more of a combo guard than a pure point, but averaged 18 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists at Oldsmar this past season.

 

[t-gator]

Dotson reminds me of damien lillard. We might luck into him. Kansas just took a transfer at pg.

 

[MidwestChomp]

Dotson reminds me of damien lillard. We might luck into him. Kansas just took a transfer at pg.

I will certainly take luck, but White can sell a damn good job, upswing in the program, and immediate playing time.

 

[t-gator]

I will certainly take luck, but White can sell a damn good job, upswing in the program, and immediate playing time.

I will take luck too. And I agree, i think whites doing a good job selling the program but i also think he's good at identifying who we can realistically get. Mac should take notes.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

On the crystal ball front:

1. This week someone picked UF for Emmitt Williams. I think there are 3 forecasts for him, 2 to UF and 1 to Duke.

2. Darius Days of The Rock School in Gainesville has 6 forecasts including one this month all of which forecast him to UF. He is a PF and I was surprised he was not mentioned in the article above.

 

[LeeForThree]

On the crystal ball front:

1. This week someone picked UF for Emmitt Williams. I think there are 3 forecasts for him, 2 to UF and 1 to Duke.

2. Darius Days of The Rock School in Gainesville has 6 forecasts including one this month all of which forecast him to UF. He is a PF and I was surprised he was not mentioned in the article above.

I really hope to get Williams...but I saw on another site that a few people said it's not happening period...so I don't know what to think lol

 

[MidwestChomp]

White is gonna have a HUGE 2018 class. I love that these high profile players are looking at the Gators!

 

[GatorBart]

I'm curious about numbers coming back for 2018.
So we lose Cheese and Egor after next year - and Egbunu. That leaves only 3 scholarships to give out. I guess we could also assume Allen will enter the draft and we'll lose one guy to transfer. But at this point, we can only sign 3 guys during the signing period in November, and would have to wait until Spring 2018 to find out about Allen and/or a possible transfer. Since we know we'd be losing our starting PG, Center and Swingman, who are the top 3 prospects you would like to see Coach White get?
1. Dotson - we need another true PG in the 2018 class. Okauru will be it after Cheese is gone.
2. Lilttle or Moore - replacement for Egor - both are solid swing-type players.
3. Williams - Replacing Egbunu - I'd like to get another 6'11" or 7' Center to go along with Gak, but I'd take Williams if he wanted to be a Gator. But as Insti pointed out, Darius Days (local kid) is a 4* PF as well and probably a more realistic 'get' for Coach White. He's a little smaller and lighter than Williams though.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

I'm curious about numbers coming back for 2018.
So we lose Cheese and Egor after next year - and Egbunu. That leaves only 3 scholarships to give out. I guess we could also assume Allen will enter the draft and we'll lose one guy to transfer. But at this point, we can only sign 3 guys during the signing period in November, and would have to wait until Spring 2018 to find out about Allen and/or a possible transfer. Since we know we'd be losing our starting PG, Center and Swingman, who are the top 3 prospects you would like to see Coach White get?
1. Dotson - we need another true PG in the 2018 class. Okauru will be it after Cheese is gone.
2. Lilttle or Moore - replacement for Egor - both are solid swing-type players.
3. Williams - Replacing Egbunu - I'd like to get another 6'11" or 7' Center to go along with Gak, but I'd take Williams if he wanted to be a Gator. But as Insti pointed out, Darius Days (local kid) is a 4* PF as well and probably a more realistic 'get' for Coach White. He's a little smaller and light than Williams though.

I really like your post. It appears to me that White likes to redshirt someone each year and bring in 4 recruits so that every year he has a frosh at each position. I am going to guess that Stokes who is injured is the red shirt in this class as he is both injured and at a position where UF has 2 or 3 guys this fall depending on where Hayes plays.

So with your assumption Egbunu comes back, UF does have 3 SRs and I could see either Allen or Hudson leaving after next year.

It would of course be great to get a Dotson at PG. I am not sure what other pure PGs UF is in on. Many thought he was heading to KU, but KU too the Lawson gang and he could feel PG is too crowded now.

At SF, I think Little is a bit short unless he has grown some. One probelm in basketball recruiting is that size matters and these kids are sometimes still growing and it is hard sometimes to get an updated height. I would therefore prefer Williamson or Hamilton at SF.

At the post positions, I agree on Emmitt Williams. I think UF needs more of a PF as UF should still have Hayes, Gak and Stokes to start the 2018 season. I would be ok with Days. He is a bit short, but is reported to have decent bulk and if he continues to grow to 6'8" or so he could be an equally good get for UF.

At SG if one of the SGs goes and depending on how Ballard developes at that position, I could see Moss or Weaver. There are also others UF is in on.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

I really hope to get Williams...but I saw on another site that a few people said it's not happening period...so I don't know what to think lol

Emmitt Williams really had a good first session at this years EYBL. He had the most rebounds and was second in boards per game. He shot 60% from inside the arc, the FT line and outside the arc. He was 7 of 11 from outside the arc. If he can keep this up, he might move up even further which is hard once one is a 5 star recruit.

 

[LeeForThree]

Emmitt Williams really had a good first session at this years EYBL. He had the most rebounds and was second in boards per game. He shot 60% from inside the arc, the FT line and outside the arc. He was 7 of 11 from outside the arc. If he can keep this up, he might move up even further which is hard once one is a 5 star recruit.

Those are some crazy stats...he is the player I want the most in this recruiting class. Add a PG (maybe Dotson) and Little on the wing.

 

[LeeForThree]

I'm curious about numbers coming back for 2018.
So we lose Cheese and Egor after next year - and Egbunu. That leaves only 3 scholarships to give out. I guess we could also assume Allen will enter the draft and we'll lose one guy to transfer. But at this point, we can only sign 3 guys during the signing period in November, and would have to wait until Spring 2018 to find out about Allen and/or a possible transfer. Since we know we'd be losing our starting PG, Center and Swingman, who are the top 3 prospects you would like to see Coach White get?
1. Dotson - we need another true PG in the 2018 class. Okauru will be it after Cheese is gone.
2. Lilttle or Moore - replacement for Egor - both are solid swing-type players.
3. Williams - Replacing Egbunu - I'd like to get another 6'11" or 7' Center to go along with Gak, but I'd take Williams if he wanted to be a Gator. But as Insti pointed out, Darius Days (local kid) is a 4* PF as well and probably a more realistic 'get' for Coach White. He's a little smaller and lighter than Williams though.

If I recall correctly Days is probably not an option right now...not recruiting him as much and might have grad issues (I could have him confused with someone else though)

 

[InstiGATOR1]

Those are some crazy stats...he is the player I want the most in this recruiting class. Add a PG (maybe Dotson) and Little on the wing.

Here is the site for these stats:

https://www.d1circuit.com/stats/div...b=division_instance_player_stats&tool=2364614

He averaged 20.5 points and 13.6 rebounds per game. It will be interesting to see what his numbers are in a larger sample.

Dotson and Little are apparently not playing in the EYBL which is a Nike league I think.

 

[rogdochar]

Geez, I have a more excited expectancy for coach White's team than for coach Mac's team.??
Watching basketball next season seems will be more rewarding than watching football.
What's going on with me??
Certainly the wins & probably partly due to the BB posters being so uninsulting to each other, respectful. It feels like we're a "team" of fans, lead by captain "LeeForThree", a leader in correct sportsmanship,

 

[InstiGATOR1]

Geez, I have a more excited expectancy for coach White's team than for coach Mac's team.??
Watching basketball next season seems will be more rewarding than watching football.
What's going on with me??
Certainly the wins & probably partly due to the BB posters being so uninsulting to each other, respectful. It feels like we're a "team" of fans, lead by captain "LeeForThree", a leader in correct sportsmanship,

Sadly it has been that way for me since Spurrier left. I previously enjoyed them equally, but after Spurrier even in Meyer's heydays you could see what he was doing to the program.

Some of it is also that this is probably the best board to discuss UF basketball. As far as I know, there is no other UF board with as much UF basketball discussion.

 

[t-gator]

Days isn't a guarantee at all. Idk where these writers are getting that. He's a Williston kid and it sounded like a long shot that he'd go to Florida a few months ago. He's also probably more of a combo forward than a big.

 

[T REX]

Sucks to see UK pick up its SIXTH 5 star athlete.

Cuck Fal

 

[MidwestChomp]

Sucks to see UK pick up its SIXTH 5 star athlete.

Cuck Fal

He'll do it again and again, and still not win it all.