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Recruiting: Kasey Hill Commits to Florida Basketball

Is this a late Christmas present or an early New Year's gift? Either way, it seems that Montverde Academy Class of 2013 point guard Kasey Hill has committed to play basketball for Billy Donovan's Florida Gators.

Kasey_hill_medium

And in case you don't trust Hill's exuberant tweet, fellow Florida commit Dillon Graham confirmed Hill's commitment much shortly afterward, followed by a host of other writers.

Dillon_graham_medium

Hill was in attendance at Florida's 90-70 win over Yale on Saturday, which I swear I'll recap at some point tonight, and was wearing a Gators sweatshirt. He had also long been considered a Florida lean.

Star-divide

As for what he can do: There's not a lot he can't do at the point guard position. Lance Davis, who will have more for us on Hill at some point, described him to me as "Derrick Rose lite" and "probably the most pure PG Donovan's ever landed"; the word "elite" gets attached to Hill a lot, too, as one might assume for a point guard with decent size and a lot of athleticism.

Maybe the most exciting possibility Hill's commitment opens up is the chance that he could bring fellow elite Florida prospect Chris Walker to Gainesville in the 2013 class. If that happens, the Gators would probably be hauling in their most highly-regarded recruiting class ever — and if those two commit, more could follow.

Some sea change from when Nick Calathes and Chandler Parsons constituted a haul, huh? Donovan's always been able to coach the players he has, sometimes molding them into a better team that other squads' superior talent, but the Oh-Fours and recent recruiting success (Patric Young, Bradley Beal) are indicative that he can pull some of that superior talent, too.

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"Some sea change from when Nick Calathes and Chandler Parsons constituted a haul, huh?"

Not particularly. Calathes was a five star player. In fact, he was a higher ranked prospect than Hill is. That said, Hill’s a rare athlete at the point, and should continue to see his star rise.

i support casual racism
by Boddington on Sep 19, 2011 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I literally wish I had killed myself on the train station after I got laid off
by Sean O on Sep 28, 2011 7:49 PM PDT

I want a BUC'N criminal investigation.
Over the Monster -- SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Sep 28, 2011 7:48 PM PDT

by internet commenter on Dec 31, 2011 6:38 PM EST reply actions  

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KYFLA0wlXM

i support casual racism
by Boddington on Sep 19, 2011 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I literally wish I had killed myself on the train station after I got laid off
by Sean O on Sep 28, 2011 7:49 PM PDT

I want a BUC'N criminal investigation.
Over the Monster -- SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Sep 28, 2011 7:48 PM PDT

by internet commenter on Dec 31, 2011 6:39 PM EST up reply actions  

I've seen em' both in person many times.

I’m not saying who’s better, but I don’t understand the undervaluing of Calathes on here lately. He’s an NBA talent.

i support casual racism
by Boddington on Sep 19, 2011 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I literally wish I had killed myself on the train station after I got laid off
by Sean O on Sep 28, 2011 7:49 PM PDT

I want a BUC'N criminal investigation.
Over the Monster -- SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Sep 28, 2011 7:48 PM PDT

by internet commenter on Dec 31, 2011 6:51 PM EST up reply actions  

Since we're reminiscing about old Gator greats, here's the purest point Donovan's ever landed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-S8P3LGA70

i support casual racism
by Boddington on Sep 19, 2011 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I literally wish I had killed myself on the train station after I got laid off
by Sean O on Sep 28, 2011 7:49 PM PDT

I want a BUC'N criminal investigation.
Over the Monster -- SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Sep 28, 2011 7:48 PM PDT

by internet commenter on Dec 31, 2011 7:00 PM EST up reply actions  

I'll also cop to this:

Watching Calathes do great things on offense and struggle to cover even the most average SEC point guard colors my perception of him, and so do his two years ending in the NIT. I can acknowledge his talent and acknowledge that I will probably always underestimate him, right?

by Andy Hutchins on Dec 31, 2011 7:09 PM EST up reply actions  

I understand.

I was a little testy because I was just on here yesterday defending him to somebody else.

i support casual racism
by Boddington on Sep 19, 2011 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I literally wish I had killed myself on the train station after I got laid off
by Sean O on Sep 28, 2011 7:49 PM PDT

I want a BUC'N criminal investigation.
Over the Monster -- SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Sep 28, 2011 7:48 PM PDT

by internet commenter on Dec 31, 2011 7:11 PM EST up reply actions  

He's not bad.

He was on bad teams, though, and I’d take an Erving Walker type, insane as he makes me, over a Calathes type.

My roommate of four years also went to high school with Nick/Chandler, and knew them, and so I heard plenty of him just sort of name-dropping them (he’s not really a basketball fan) early on. It was annoying.

I think I have fully unpacked my baggage.

by Andy Hutchins on Dec 31, 2011 7:36 PM EST up reply actions  

I go the other direction.

I think Calathes’ decision to leave early and play in Europe has led many UF fans to reflexively dislike him, which I hate.

i support casual racism
by Boddington on Sep 19, 2011 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I literally wish I had killed myself on the train station after I got laid off
by Sean O on Sep 28, 2011 7:49 PM PDT

I want a BUC'N criminal investigation.
Over the Monster -- SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Sep 28, 2011 7:48 PM PDT

by internet commenter on Dec 31, 2011 7:45 PM EST up reply actions  

Just the other day I was thinking about Calathes leaving early

and boy was that smart.

I don’t know if he realized it or not but he just was not athletic enough to play in the NBA. Not only that but other leagues that pay half decent are getting more athletic all the time (watch the Israeli league). It was smart of him to go get paid to do something he loves as long as he can. I don’t hold anything against him for leaving early.

by Tractorr on Dec 31, 2011 9:43 PM EST up reply actions  

He's been very successful for Panathinaikos, and has received interest from both ACB and NBA teams.

i support casual racism
by Boddington on Sep 19, 2011 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I literally wish I had killed myself on the train station after I got laid off
by Sean O on Sep 28, 2011 7:49 PM PDT

I want a BUC'N criminal investigation.
Over the Monster -- SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Sep 28, 2011 7:48 PM PDT

by internet commenter on Dec 31, 2011 10:20 PM EST up reply actions  

I am sure there is interest but

Corey Brewer is way more athletic and look at the limited playing time he is getting.

by Tractorr on Dec 31, 2011 11:20 PM EST up reply actions  

Yep. If it was Gerald Green, Kendrick Brown and the like … would be the best players.

by FlaGators on Jan 2, 2012 9:22 AM EST up reply actions  

Just to be clear, that has nothing to do with it for me.

I don’t dislike him for leaving early at all. In fact, I really don’t dislike him either. Just one aspect of his game. I actually would have liked to see him play with Parson, Tyus, etc. more. I’d be very interested to see how that would have gone. I just found that one part of his game frustrating. No player is perfect, even my favorites.

by The Bull Gator on Jan 1, 2012 7:52 AM EST via mobile up reply actions  

Definitely

The fact we didn’t make the tourney when he was here also doesn’t help

October 28th, 2011-- a date which will live in infamy--

OTTOTD.com

by Sveet on Jan 1, 2012 10:06 PM EST up reply actions  

He's better, but he'll never be a good defender.

Lacks the lateral quickness.

i support casual racism
by Boddington on Sep 19, 2011 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I literally wish I had killed myself on the train station after I got laid off
by Sean O on Sep 28, 2011 7:49 PM PDT

I want a BUC'N criminal investigation.
Over the Monster -- SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Sep 28, 2011 7:48 PM PDT

by internet commenter on Dec 31, 2011 7:10 PM EST up reply actions  

Research confirms...per Rivals:

Calathes: #1 player in state, #3 at position, #14 overall nationally, 5 stars
Parsons: #3 player in state, #5 at position, #19 overall nationall, 5 stars

The sea change comment is obviously phrased with the assumption that this kid will live up to and/or exceed his hype, and probably with the inference that Calathes and Parsons never really did (not that I’m arguing that point…Calathes bolted before he gave himself a chance to do so, and Parsons was solid but never spectacularly dominating).

But it’s not like, on paper, that you could have done a lot better than those two kids at the time.

by lawdy15 on Jan 1, 2012 11:10 PM EST up reply actions  

I believe (for Parsons anyway) that a lot of that was on potential. As in he hadn’t played a whole lot of basketball. He finally lived up to that “star” billing his senior year.

by FlaGators on Jan 2, 2012 9:24 AM EST up reply actions  

Donovan has pulled in talent before

Mike Miller, Harvey, Drejer, Dupay etc were all highly regarded players out of high school.

contributing author - Alligator Army

by Cardsfan25 on Dec 31, 2011 9:21 PM EST reply actions  

Beal

October 28th, 2011-- a date which will live in infamy--

OTTOTD.com

by Sveet on Jan 1, 2012 10:06 PM EST up reply actions  

Teddy Dupay … ugh. Don’t even get me started on the Mariner guy.

by FlaGators on Jan 2, 2012 9:24 AM EST up reply actions  

Huge Commit

Hopefully we don’t lose him to some Powerhouse recruiting school (Duke) (A. Rivers)

"It's just a very exciting time at the University of Florida. And I want to be part of it."
-Tim Tebow

by evandagator on Jan 1, 2012 1:01 AM EST reply actions  

This kid.

Is as nasty as nasty gets. This dude can fuckin ball. The profanity was necessary there cuz there’s no other way to say. Little man goes hard.

by gatorempire127 on Jan 1, 2012 3:29 AM EST via mobile reply actions  

Awesome

I’m glad to see we landed another talented player, but seriously? ANOTHER guard???!?!!
If Young bolts after this season, who is going to play center? Cody Larson?
Next year we’ll have no other options than chuck wild 3s all game because we’ll have 10 guards on the roster!!

In all kinds of weather...

by skigator93 on Jan 1, 2012 6:44 PM EST reply actions  

BTW

I cannot stand when we just chuck 3s!

In all kinds of weather...

by skigator93 on Jan 1, 2012 6:46 PM EST up reply actions  

Hill is a 2013 recruit

Beal, walker, boynton will all be gone

October 28th, 2011-- a date which will live in infamy--

OTTOTD.com

by Sveet on Jan 1, 2012 10:08 PM EST up reply actions  


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