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News and notes from the week in Florida recruiting.
-- The remaining signees from Florida's Class of 2012 who didn't enroll early arrived on campus early this week. Five-star defensive end Dante Fowler has yet to make it to campus, as Inside The Gators is reporting Fowler still needs to finish and pass an online class before he can report. Jonathan Bullard, another five-star defensive end, has been cleared by Florida, but is still waiting to be cleared by the NCAA. Considering UF has given him the OK, I'm sure he'll get clearance from the NCAA.
More after the jump.
-- Here's a good story from the Tampa Bay Times on Florida commit Joey Ivie's ascension from a sleeper to a big-time recruit. There's an annoying phrase in recruiting used to explain lower-rated prospects who people feel will make an impact in college: "He's just a football player." As annoying as that phrase is, if there was ever a prospect that fit that line of thought, it's Ivie.
-- 247Sports' Steve Wiltfong is reporting he thinks Notre Dame leads for Alex Anzalone. Florida is targeting Anzalone to round out its linebacker class, currently standing at four members with James Hearns, Dillan Lawson, Daniel McMillian and Quinton Powell. Anzalone's top three consists of Notre Dame, Florida and Penn State, probably in that order.
#UF WR commit going after top LB @AlexAnzalone_24 RT "@AhmadFull5: Working on my boy Alex Anzalone. Football stops but recruiting doesnt."
— Zach Abolverdi (@ZachAbolverdi) June 21, 2012
-- Four-star defensive end DeMarcus Walker is visiting Florida on Friday. The Jacksonville product has had Florida high on his list for some time, but seems enamored with Alabama and Nick Saban, as well as Auburn and Clemson. Walker will announce his decision Aug. 3. For now, it looks like he'll choose Alabama, but maybe his UF visit this weekend can change things up.
-- This is a basketball recruiting note, but very important. Five star forward Chris Walker out of Bonifay updated his recruitment with Inside The Gators ($) and had some positive things to say about Billy Donovan and Florida. Quote via Only Gators.
I guess you could say that [the Gators] are in the driver's seat," he said when asked if UF leads for his services. "I'm still open of course and maybe a few visits could change my mind."
Walker also said his top five schools are Florida, Kansas, Kentucky (who has still not offered), Ohio State and Louisville. Walker got a taste of what it's like to play with Florida commit Kasey Hill on the AAU circuit with the Florida Rams, and that certainly helped the Gators with Walker.
-- Another hoops recruiting note: Florida offered 2013 shooting guard Isaac Hamilton out of Los Angeles. He's a consensus five-star and has a nice build for a shooting guard at 6'4", 190. Hamilton does play a good bit of point guard, too, so if that's the position he decides to pursue in college then Florida probably won't be much of a factor with Kasey Hill in the fold. Arizona and Baylor are in a strong position with Hamilton right now.
Florida will look to add a shooter, like Hamilton, to its '13 class, which is looking like it could be one of Billy Donovan's all-time greats. Players who could fill that shooter role: Markel Crawford, Robert Hubbs, Reggie Cameron, Nick King or Chris Benzon.