Tuesday, October 30
Gainesville, FL
7 PM
Florida Gators
vs
Florida Southern (Exhibition)
From left: Shooting guard Noah Locke, forward Keyontae Johnson and point guard Andrew Nembhard make up UF's 2018-19 freshman class, with each player figuring prominently in the team's rotational plans this season. (Photo: Allison Curry/UAA Communications)
Freshman Class Ready for O'Dome Indoctrination
Tuesday, October 30, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — For most high school prospects, one of the coolest parts of the recruiting process is the official campus visit and a chance to see their potential college of choice in action on its home floor, and thus experience the environment they may one day play in.
Take UF freshman shooting guard Noah Locke, for example. What did he think of the scene when he first saw the Gators play at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center?
"I've actually never been there for a game," said Locke, who took his official visit from Maryland in September of last year. "Been there for volleyball, though."
How 'bout forward Keyontae Johnson?
"I could never get down here for a game," said Johnson, the Virginian who made his official visit the previous October. "All I know about it is what I've seen on TV."
That leaves point guard Andrew Nembhard.
"Oh yeah, I came to one game last year — Kentucky," said Nembhard, shaking his head as he recalled the visit March 3 when the Gators defeated the Wildcats in a raucous regular-season home finale. "It was crazy in there. Loudest place I've ever been."
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" preview here]
OK, so it won't be like that Tuesday night when Florida faces Florida Southern in an exhibition game at the O'Dome that will serve as the final preseason tune-up before the official 2018-19 opener Nov. 6 at Florida State. It will, however, be a lot different than it was Oct. 20 when UF played a so-called secret scrimmage on its home court against Furman with only coaches, managers, officials, statisticians and limited support staff allowed in the house.
Say hello, gentlemen, to the Rowdy Reptiles.
"I think about it all the time, and I just can't wait," Locke said of the anticipation of his first true taste of the O'Dome atmosphere, an experience that only figures to get better for he and his classmates. "It was one thing to have a scrimmage and actually go out there on the court, but now I can't wait to get out there with the fans and Rowdy Reptiles and everything going on. It's going to give us energy."
If preseason practices (and the one scrimmage) are indicators, all three UF rookies will play significant roles in their first seasons.
"These guys have been well coached and are a little more mature than the average freshmen," UF coach Mike White said. "I think the accountability level with those three has been a bit surprising [in] doing some things that aren't really fun to do, but making themselves do it. That's how some people define toughness. They're three of our most accountable guys right now. How many minutes does that mean they end up earning? That will continue to be evaluated. But I'm pretty pleased with them so far."
Fans won't have to wait long to get a first look at them. Especially Nembhard.
When the Florida starting lineup is introduced before the game, Nembhard's image is expected to be one of those beamed on on the O'Dome floor. The Canadian by way of the basketball boutique Montverde (Fla.) Academy has done nothing in his first three months on campus to dispel his status as the first five-star prospect signed during White's four recruiting cycles.
The 6-foot-5, 193-pound Nembhard, who played and starred for Canada's national team at the FIBA U18 Americas over the summer, has length, vision and a playmaker's presence to go with a maturity beyond his years. He'll need all those traits to step into the void left by the graduation of Chris Chiozza, who Nembhard watched that day against Kentucky set the UF all-time assists record.
"As freshmen, we've been practicing since the beginning of Summer 'B,' so it's been a long time coming," he said. "We're ready to compete on a real court and get to it."
Locke scored 2,380 points during his career at the McDonogh School in suburban Baltimore. The kid is a pure shooter, with (dare anyone say it) NBA range. He's got a quick-trigger, too, and he's not afraid to pull it.
"We have this NBA 3-point line in the practice gym and I usually shoot behind that, so it's going to be different in the O'Dome … but I usually shoot it further back," Locke said. "I guess that's been my specialty, making 3s, but I consider myself a scorer overall. I mean, I can shoot, but I feel like I can do other things, too."
He works on his craft, also. Locke is a daily after-practice guy. Oftentimes with Nembhard, sometimes with Johnson.
The three share a suite in the dorms.
"We're together all the time," Johnson said.
Johnson played at two prestigious prep schools: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy and Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy. He brings a unique skill set to the Gators compared to anyone else on the team. His 41.5-inch vertical jump and ridiculous 7-foot wingspan come with an aggressive nature that often finds him challenging opposing big men in the paint with hard drives, despite standing just 6-5. Sometimes Johnson goes over them — wait till the Rowdies get a load of his first breakaway windmill slam — but what makes Johnson really dangerous is his second bounce, which comes fast by way of that elite athleticism. He'll create second chances, be it with offensive rebounds or tips.
He can't wait for the chance.
"I'll be a little nervous, but if I just concentrate on playing my game I'll be fine," said Johnson, who may as well have been speaking on behalf of his fellow froshes. "Right now, I'm not sure what my role will be. That will have to develop as the season goes. But I don't want to focus my expectations too high because we have goals as a team. It's about what the team's expectations are and where I fit in. I'll play the role the coaches want me to play and trust whatever Coach White has in mind for me."
Time to raise the curtain on their UF careers.
Take UF freshman shooting guard Noah Locke, for example. What did he think of the scene when he first saw the Gators play at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center?
"I've actually never been there for a game," said Locke, who took his official visit from Maryland in September of last year. "Been there for volleyball, though."
How 'bout forward Keyontae Johnson?
"I could never get down here for a game," said Johnson, the Virginian who made his official visit the previous October. "All I know about it is what I've seen on TV."
That leaves point guard Andrew Nembhard.
"Oh yeah, I came to one game last year — Kentucky," said Nembhard, shaking his head as he recalled the visit March 3 when the Gators defeated the Wildcats in a raucous regular-season home finale. "It was crazy in there. Loudest place I've ever been."
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" preview here]
OK, so it won't be like that Tuesday night when Florida faces Florida Southern in an exhibition game at the O'Dome that will serve as the final preseason tune-up before the official 2018-19 opener Nov. 6 at Florida State. It will, however, be a lot different than it was Oct. 20 when UF played a so-called secret scrimmage on its home court against Furman with only coaches, managers, officials, statisticians and limited support staff allowed in the house.
Say hello, gentlemen, to the Rowdy Reptiles.
"I think about it all the time, and I just can't wait," Locke said of the anticipation of his first true taste of the O'Dome atmosphere, an experience that only figures to get better for he and his classmates. "It was one thing to have a scrimmage and actually go out there on the court, but now I can't wait to get out there with the fans and Rowdy Reptiles and everything going on. It's going to give us energy."
If preseason practices (and the one scrimmage) are indicators, all three UF rookies will play significant roles in their first seasons.
New guys have been on campus a few weeks, hear from @_NoahLocke @AndrewNembhard & @keyontaejohnso1 what it's been like.#GatorsHoop pic.twitter.com/7mEVIMbNmK
— Gators Men's Basketball (@GatorsMBK) July 23, 2018
"These guys have been well coached and are a little more mature than the average freshmen," UF coach Mike White said. "I think the accountability level with those three has been a bit surprising [in] doing some things that aren't really fun to do, but making themselves do it. That's how some people define toughness. They're three of our most accountable guys right now. How many minutes does that mean they end up earning? That will continue to be evaluated. But I'm pretty pleased with them so far."
Fans won't have to wait long to get a first look at them. Especially Nembhard.
When the Florida starting lineup is introduced before the game, Nembhard's image is expected to be one of those beamed on on the O'Dome floor. The Canadian by way of the basketball boutique Montverde (Fla.) Academy has done nothing in his first three months on campus to dispel his status as the first five-star prospect signed during White's four recruiting cycles.
The 6-foot-5, 193-pound Nembhard, who played and starred for Canada's national team at the FIBA U18 Americas over the summer, has length, vision and a playmaker's presence to go with a maturity beyond his years. He'll need all those traits to step into the void left by the graduation of Chris Chiozza, who Nembhard watched that day against Kentucky set the UF all-time assists record.
"As freshmen, we've been practicing since the beginning of Summer 'B,' so it's been a long time coming," he said. "We're ready to compete on a real court and get to it."
Locke scored 2,380 points during his career at the McDonogh School in suburban Baltimore. The kid is a pure shooter, with (dare anyone say it) NBA range. He's got a quick-trigger, too, and he's not afraid to pull it.
"We have this NBA 3-point line in the practice gym and I usually shoot behind that, so it's going to be different in the O'Dome … but I usually shoot it further back," Locke said. "I guess that's been my specialty, making 3s, but I consider myself a scorer overall. I mean, I can shoot, but I feel like I can do other things, too."
He works on his craft, also. Locke is a daily after-practice guy. Oftentimes with Nembhard, sometimes with Johnson.
The three share a suite in the dorms.
"We're together all the time," Johnson said.
Johnson played at two prestigious prep schools: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy and Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy. He brings a unique skill set to the Gators compared to anyone else on the team. His 41.5-inch vertical jump and ridiculous 7-foot wingspan come with an aggressive nature that often finds him challenging opposing big men in the paint with hard drives, despite standing just 6-5. Sometimes Johnson goes over them — wait till the Rowdies get a load of his first breakaway windmill slam — but what makes Johnson really dangerous is his second bounce, which comes fast by way of that elite athleticism. He'll create second chances, be it with offensive rebounds or tips.
He can't wait for the chance.
"I'll be a little nervous, but if I just concentrate on playing my game I'll be fine," said Johnson, who may as well have been speaking on behalf of his fellow froshes. "Right now, I'm not sure what my role will be. That will have to develop as the season goes. But I don't want to focus my expectations too high because we have goals as a team. It's about what the team's expectations are and where I fit in. I'll play the role the coaches want me to play and trust whatever Coach White has in mind for me."
Time to raise the curtain on their UF careers.
Players Mentioned
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