GATORS

Sophomore Effort Leaves Tough Questions

By ANDY STAPLES

Published: Mar 4, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS - University of Florida center Chris Richard has staked out what he considers the ideological high ground on the subject of three of his sophomore teammates and their potential early departure to the NBA.

"I'm all about pro-choice," Richard said with a laugh as the Gators celebrated the first national title in school history early Tuesday morning. "If they want to leave, I'm totally happy for them. If they want to come back and try to win another one, that's great, too. … I don't know what everybody's like as far as their family money situation. Some people may have to go."

In the next few weeks, forwards Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer and center Al Horford must decide whether they want to return to Florida to seek another national title or seek their fortune in the NBA. Underclassmen have until April 29 to declare themselves eligible for the June draft.

After the Gators' title-clinching win against UCLA on Monday, the three sophomores - whose NBA draft projections range from top-five (Noah) to mid-first-round (Horford) to undetermined (Brewer) - all said they have to consult their families, their coaches and their teammates.

"I don't think all of us are going to leave," Brewer said. "Maybe one or two of us."

Last week, Brewer said he would leave only if he knew he'd be a top-10 pick. Early Tuesday, Brewer insinuated no such promise was coming.

"Probably, more than likely, I'm 90-95 percent coming back," he said. "I don't want to lie to you."

Noah and Horford gave vague answers. Each said he would love to return to the Gators and try for another national title, but each admitted he'll need to discuss his future with his family.

"We'll talk about all that," Noah said. "It's something I'll definitely have to discuss with my family, and not just my family but my coaches and the people that I love and the people who want the best for me."

Horford said he wouldn't hurry his decision.

"We're going to get together and talk about this," he said. "I'm really not going to rush anything. I really like it here, and I want to be here. I'll talk to the guys, and we'll decide."

Asked Tuesday morning what advice he would give the trio, Gators coach Billy Donovan said he would support any decision his players made. But Donovan also said he expects to have everyone back.

"I think we've got a different group of kids," Donovan said. "I believe in my heart that all those guys will be back. I think they're having too much fun. I think they enjoy playing together too much."

Donovan typically calls NBA friends such as Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy to get an honest appraisal of where his underclassmen might be drafted. He said he would do the same again this offseason, but Donovan also said the culture of the NBA draft has changed. He said teams used to make and keep promises; now, Donovan said, there are no guarantees.

The saga of former Gator Matt Walsh probably influenced Donovan's thinking on the issue. Last year, Walsh chose to skip his senior season amid assurances he would be a first-round pick. He went undrafted.

"All this stuff with the NBA, it's all speculation right now," Donovan said. "I've had guys on my team and I've seen guys on other teams over the years where you see where they're projected to be drafted, and they don't even come close to where their projection is."

One other person probably deserves serious consideration in the trio's decision. Point guard Taurean Green, the lone Florida sophomore who isn't on the NBA's radar at the moment, lives with Noah, Horford and Brewer in an on-campus apartment. The four had planned to live together next school year.

"They'd better stay in college," Green said with a laugh.

Then he got serious.

"I don't know if I could give any advice," he said. "I think the best thing they can do is go to coach [Donovan]."