Gators, Gamecocks Bring Familiar Faces Back to O'Dome
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Brent Wright recalls the exact moment he wanted to make a difference.
His hometown of Miami. At a McDonald's. Wright, one of the most important basketball signees in University of Florida history, watched as a young boy struggled to order his food because he couldn't read the menu.
"That's what catapulted me," Wright said. "That's what inspired me." Brent Wright
It's called the B. Wright Leadership Academy. The non-profit private school was founded in 2013 by Wright, a member of Billy Donovan's first signing class, after he returned to South Florida following a lengthy professional career overseas. The academy, which numbers about 180 students ages kindergarten through eighth grade, according to its mission statement, strives to "provide a safe and nurturing environment for children by fostering an engaging and educational atmosphere which will promote each child's unique social, emotional, physical, technology, and cognitive development with a strong emphasis on arts and technology."
Wright made a decent living during his 14 pro seasons, spanning stops in Italy, Israel, Sweden, Latvia, Belgium, Croatia, Russia, Ukraine and Iran from 2001-13. But he seems to have found his true calling in Liberty Square, not far from Miami High, which Wright helped lead to multiple state championships as a forward in the mid-1990s.
"I wanted to give back to the community and to give back to the kids and youth in the community," he said.
Wright, now 44, was always a soft-spoken sort, not into self-promotion, but his endeavors back home may be something he can share with a handful of former UF teammates Wednesday night when they watch the Gators (11-8, 4-3) take on South Carolina 8-11, 1-5) at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. Wright, along with the likes of Kenyan Weaks, Teddy Dupay and Ronnie King (maybe others), are coming back for this game to see another foundational Florida player, inspirational and overachieving point guard Eddie Shannon, their former Florida teammate who will be on the bench as an assistant coach for the Gamecocks.
The Gator who hatched the idea for the mini-reunion won't be in attendance. Major Parker, like the others a base member of Billy Donovan's first NCAA Tournament team, died of a heart attack in November.
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" setup here]
Parker had been in touch with Taurean Green, UF's director of player development, about the mini-homecoming and the recruiting of former Gators to make their first collective trip back — albeit in a much smaller capacity — since dozens flocked to the O'Dome for the "Billy Donovan Court" dedication in February 2020. Their late teammate will be on everyone's mind.
"Major was someone who was always there, always wanted what was best for the team, just a total team player who loved basketball," Wright said. "I think about him and think about the strong brotherhood we had. It's hard now for me not to be able to pick up the phone and call him. Major followed everything about Florida basketball and knew how to keep in contact with everybody."
Both Wright, a 6-foot-9 forward, and Parker, a 6-4 guard/forward who could defend all five positions, were part of the 1997-98 freshman class that arrived for Donovan's second season. They were two of the first commitments to take a chance on Donovan — a couple '98-99 arrivals, Teddy Dupay and Udonis Haslem also pledged early — with assistant coach Anthony Grant, who starred at Miami Senior, also a big factor in the recruiting process.
From left: Brent Wright, Eddie Shannon and Kenyan Weaks
When Wright and Parker arrived, Shannon was in the process of blossoming into one of the best point guards in program history despite playing his final two seasons after losing sight in his left eye (the results of an accident as a teenager) and having it fitted with a cosmetic prosthesis. Under Donovan, the 5-foot-11 Shannon streamlined his body, became a much better defender and to this day holds the UF career record for steals with 204, in addition being No. 5 in assists with 493 and 40th in scoring with 1,168 points. South Carolina assistant coach Eddie Shannon
Shannon, Wright, Parker, Weaks and Dupay were all key cogs on the '97-98 squad that went 22-9 and was tabbed as a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament, just the sixth berth in school history. The Gators defeated Penn in opening-round play, Weber State in the second round, both at Seattle, then dropped a 73-72 heartbreaker against Gonzaga in the West Region semifinals at Phoenix.
A dribble-up-the-floor, desperation 3-pointer from Shannon — a good look in transition — rimmed out at the buzzer in what turned out to be his final game.
Shannon went on to have a distinguished international career (nine countries in 11 seasons), while Wright, Parker, Weaks and Dupay went to the Final Four the following season, losing the 2000 NCAA championship game to Michigan State at Indianapolis. Wright's senior season ended with UF capturing the second Southeastern Conference title in school history and a second-round NCAA defeat.
They helped set the standard for the UF program that Donovan built into a national power.
Two decades later, Wright is using his power to make that difference in his community.
"Brent Wright's story is a wonderful story," said Tom Williams, an assistant athletics director in the Hawkins Center and longtime basketball academic advisor. "It's a story of growth, developing, maturing and everything you want college to be about."
