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.
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.
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.
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.