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Three Gators Drafted In Top 9

By ANDY STAPLES The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jun 29, 2007

GAINESVILLE - The members of the University of Florida basketball team's class of 2004 made history again Thursday night. And this time, Joakim Noah wore seersucker.

Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer, the nucleus of the first team since 1992 to win consecutive NCAA men's titles, became the first trio of college teammates selected in the top 10 of the NBA draft. More specifically, the Gators were the first trio selected in the top nine, breaking the mark set by the 1976 Indiana team, which had three players picked in the top 11.

The Atlanta Hawks took Horford, a 6-foot-10 power forward, with the third pick. Four picks later, the Minnesota Timberwolves grabbed Brewer, a 6-8 swingman. Noah, resplendent in a suit-and-bowtie combo that made him look like a 7-foot, bushy-haired Southern lawyer, went to the Chicago Bulls at No. 9.

The three Gators weren't the only Sunshine State lottery picks. The Los Angeles Clippers chose Florida State forward Al Thornton at No. 14. Thornton, 23, was the oldest player chosen Thursday.

Center Chris Richard, the sixth man on Florida's national title teams, will join Brewer in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves picked Richard in the second round with the 41st overall pick.

Point guard Taurean Green, the fourth member of Florida's class of 2004, went to Portland with the 52nd pick.

Guard Lee Humphrey was the only member of Florida's starting five not drafted.

Gators coach Billy Donovan, who missed Thursday's draft in New York after his flight was canceled, seemed confident Wednesday that his players would become the first trio to crack the top 10. But, Donovan said, he didn't know that when he recruited them. Rivals.com ranked Horford as the 36th-best player in the class of 2004. Brewer was No. 31, and Noah was No. 75. The players' ascension to the top of the college game - and to the top of the draft board - is a testament to their dedication, Donovan said.

"To see that, as a coach, over a period of time, makes you feel proud," Donovan said. "It makes you understand, and you try to tell some of these younger guys that there's not a lot to do with where you're ranked and how good people think you are. It's about how good you want to try to become."

The selections of Horford, Brewer and Noah went about as expected. Horford was fairly universally regarded as the draft's third-best prospect behind Greg Oden, the Ohio State center Horford faced twice as a junior, and Texas forward Kevin Durant. Brewer fell slightly when Boston - picking for Seattle after a trade - chose Georgetown forward Jeff Green. Noah had impressed Bulls officials at a workout in Chicago this month, so his selection wasn't a surprise.

It was, however, a relief.

"That was the longest hour of my life," Noah told ESPN. "But I feel so good right now. I feel so fortunate, so blessed."

Thornton, the former Seminole, made history of his own. He was the third-highest pick in FSU history, behind Hall of Famer Dave Cowens (No. 4 in 1970) and George McCloud (No. 7 in 1989).

"He is really a world-class athlete," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said shortly after Thornton's selection. "I'm not sure there is anybody in the draft who plays harder than Al Thornton."

Reporter Scott Carter contributed to this report. Reporter Andy Staples can be reached at (352) 262-3719 or astaples@

tampatrib.com.

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