An interesting question from Associate HC Hartman

Welcome to Rent-A-Player 2022.

 

Could someone let us know how we know that it’s down to Florida and Auburn?

 

Well, we don't know for certain, but a couple of Twitter folks have said that's where it is. Take with a grain of salt. He visits UF this weekend, so I like our positioning. A look at all those Final Four floors hanging on the wall of the Practice Facility ought to wow him.

 

Broome is also from Florida, so that might be a pull being closer to family. Like I said I hope for the best, but we aren't considered the favorite, just one in the mix.

 

If we get Broome, I will be ecstatic and Florida will definitely have to be considered a major player going into next year. Top 25 team for sure. I'm guessing that Golden is telling Broome he'll be the 5 and CC the 4, but it will also allow both guys to not be overworked.

It would be the most excited I was for a season since Kerry Blackshear committed with Lewis & Mann as freshman along with KJ, Nembhard and Locke as sophomores. I feel confident however that it would perform much better than that team under Golden, especially with more experienced players on the team and a much better offensive coach.

Also, what would be great is next year Broome would be the C as well as the majority of the team coming back next year.

 

I couldn’t agree with you more.

 

Broome is from Plant City, FL. That's something in our favor. Family and friends are a two hour drive from Billy Donovan Court at Exactech Arena Inside the O'Connell Center O-Dome.

 

If we get Broome it would be a pretty significant upgrade. Would be a HUGE get

 

It would just be so exciting to think of the possibilities, especially with a coach who will focus on how to use players in the best way.

 

Eric discussed this on the podcast, and the argument was sorta compelling. Golden ran a lot of two big looks at SF, following Gonzaga, so offense wouldn’t be a major issue with those two together. Would be rougher defensively, so you would have to run your ball screen D a little differently with them on the floor. But also you are probably only talking about 10 minutes worth of playing two bigs. That’s a lot more doable for short stretches, though they probably can’t both be on the court for crunch time because it makes you less versatile.

 

Hmm….historically, we haven’t recruited well in basketball from the greater Tampa area. Hoping that changes

 

Renaldo Garcia, Dwayne Schintizius, Livingston Chatman, Dewayne Davis, Dametri Hill and Maureese Speights....I'm sure I'm missing a couple.

 

Andrew DeClerq

 

Yeah, it's hard to imagine us being the favorite, but he's a Plant City kid. Probably wanted to play most of his life. Now that Florida does want him, I guess he's curious.

 

Michael Frazier

 

teddy dupay!

 

We’ve gotten some players but if you made a list of really good players from that area, we’ve missed quite a few. Horace Broadnax, George Almonds, Charlie Bradley just to name a few. I haven’t kept up nearly like I used to.

 

How about two-time national champion Chris Richard? He's a Lakeland guy, but I count that as the Tampa Sphere of Influence.

 

Dupay is from Naples, I think.