Florida Basketball: A Blueprint for Success

McLeod Neale by Analyst Written on July 13, 2008
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Eloy Vargas also played high school ball with Kenny Boynton, who most consider to be the best scoring guard in the country.  He never really complained about not getting the ball enough.  You have to be an unselfish player to play with Kenny Boynton.  That is not a hit against Boynton, because he is a guy that should be taking lots of shots.

Ray Shipman seems to be the person that will give the Gators the athleticism and the hustle that Brewer gave to the team.  Ray reminds me of Rip Hamilton without the shot.  He will be able to run the floor all day long.  Ray will bring the intensity to every play.

In a year or two:

It is well known that Deshawn Painter is the fifth scoring option on the Boo Williams team.  For a guy as good as Painter, it takes a humble attitude to do that.  He is also known for his defensive intensity and rebounding.  That is the type of player that Billy Donovan wanted this season: a guy that would run the floor, rebound, hustle, and play good defense.

From what I have heard about Painter, he sounds like a guy like Adrian Moss, who is the poster boy for unselfishness, hard work, and hustling.  The exception is that Painter could end up more skilled offensively than Moss, and I will take as many guys like Adrian Moss as I can get, because an attitude like that can be contagious.  Adrian Moss does not get the publicity that he deserves for being part of that first national championship team.

Erik Murphy is another unselfish guy.  He is considered just as good of a passer as he is a scorer.  He is a well-coached player who plays for former NBA player John Carroll.  Erik Murphy has the potential to score 25 points like he did against Derrick Favors.  However, during the Tournament of Champions in Chapel Hill, NC, Murphy averaged about 11 points while eight of his teammates averaged over five points, showing that he is able to distribute the ball quite well too.

 

3. Good three-point shooters:

If you have the best frontcourt in America, that is really going to open things up for the shooters.  That was a key part of the second national championship.

I believe the reason that Billy Donovan is making big men the No. 1 recruiting priority is that the three-point line is moving back about a foot.  It is going to take time for players to adjust to that, and you cannot rely on shooting three-pointers as much anymore because it is a more difficult shot.

The importance of great three-point shooters is that they are necessary to prevent defenses from collapsing on the big men down low.  It also keeps defenses honest on the pick and roll.

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written on July 13, 2008 Opinion

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