Five Gators Selected In NBA Draft Including Three In Top 10
Friday, June 29, 2007 | Men's Basketball
Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah were all selected in the top 10 of the NBA Draft Thursday night, the first time three players from one school have ever been taken in the top 10 in the same draft. Chris Richard and Taurean Green each went in the second round, as Florida had a school record five total players drafted.
Horford was selected with the third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks, the highest selection by a Gator since Neal Walk was selected No. 2 overall by the Phoenix Suns in 1969. Horford is only the third top five pick in UF history, as Mike Miller was selected fifth in 2000.
Just over 20 minutes later Corey Brewer was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves as the seventh overall pick.
Two spots later the Chicago Bulls used the ninth pick in the draft to select Joakim Noah and history was made as Florida had three of the first nine picks in the draft.
Florida had just three top 10 picks in school history prior to Thursday night's draft.
As the draft entered the second round, the Timberwolves added another Gator, as Chris Richard was taken by Minnesota with the 41st overall pick where he'll join Brewer. Taurean Green wrapped up an incredible night for the University of Florida when he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 52nd pick in the draft.
“These players were fortunate enough to be a part of two National Championships, and now have the opportunity to continue their careers at the next level,” said University of Florida head coach Billy Donovan. “I'm so happy for, and proud of, this group, as they continue to make history. Their selections tonight are a true testament of how hard they've worked. It's a great day for basketball at the University of Florida and for basketball in the state of Florida.”
A total of 11 players have now been drafted during Donovan's 11-year tenure at the University of Florida.
Notes:
* The five players drafted is the most ever by a Florida team – the Gators had two players drafted in both 1984 and 2000. The five players selected nearly matched the total number of NBA picks under Billy Donovan prior to Thursday night (six between 1998-2005).
* Al Horford's selection at the No. 3 spot was the highest by a Florida men's basketball player since Neal Walk went No. 2 to the Phoenix Suns in 1969. He is the first Gator to be drafted by the Atlanta Hawks.
* Horford is only the third top five pick in UF history - Walk and Mike Miller (No. 5, 2000)
* Horford joined his father as an NBA Draft pick. Tito Horford was a second round pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in 1988. Taurean Green did the same later in the draft when he was selected in the second round (52nd pick) by the Portland Trail Blazers. Sidney Green was a first round pick (No. 5 overall) by the Chicago Bulls in 1983.
* Corey Brewer was the first Gator selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves, although not the first Gator to be selected by a team from the state, as Joe Hobbs, the first Florida player ever selected, was taken by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1958. He was joined later in the evening by Chris Richard.
* Joakim Noah is the second UF player drafted by the Chicago Bulls, joining Matt Bonner who was a second round pick of the team in 2003 but was traded later on draft night.
* Taurean Green is the first Gator to be drafted by Portland.
* The University of Florida had only three top 10 selections in the history of its basketball program until Thursday night.
