Marreese Speights leaving UF
By Kevin Brockway
Sun sports writer
Published: Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 12:28 p.m.
Florida sophomore center Marreese Speights kept his name in the NBA draft Thursday, foregoing his final two years of eligibility and leaving a void in the middle for the Gators to fill this season.
Speights, who finished his sophomore season as Florida's second-leading scorer (14.5 ppg) and leading rebounder (8.1 rpg), let UF coach Billy Donovan know of his decision during a phone conversation Thursday morning.
"I completely support his decision," Donovan said. "This is what he wants to do. I wish him nothing but the best of luck on June 26 (the date of the NBA draft) and in the future."
Had Speights returned, Florida likely would have been a preseason candidate to win a Southeastern Conference championship. Instead, the Gators will face the challenge of replacing their top low-post scoring threat. Speights also led the Gators with 49 blocked shots and 10 double-doubles.
"I want to thank Coach Donovan and the entire staff for helping me develop my game and become a better player over the past two years." Speights said in a statement released Thursday. "Even though I’m leaving the University of Florida early, I'll forever be a Gator."
Speights is the first UF sophomore to leave for the NBA draft since Mike Miller, whom the Orlando Magic selected fifth overall in 2000. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound Speights is projected by most draft analysts as a mid-to-late NBA first-round pick and has impressed NBA teams in workouts with his soft touch and shooting range.
"Based on the information we've gathered from workouts, we feel like it's in Marreese's best interests to keep his name in the draft," said Speights' adviser and former AAU coach, Matt Ramker.
After coming off the bench during Florida's 2007 national championship season as a freshman, Speights earned a starting job as a sophomore. The transition was rocky at times. Speights had some early-season conditioning issues which affected his ability to defend the low post.
But Speights improved as the season progressed and saved one of his best performances for last, a 16-point, 18-rebound effort in Florida's NIT semifinal loss to Massachusetts. Speights' 18 rebounds were a season-high and broke Neal Walk's 1969 record for most rebounds by a UF player in an NIT game (17).
Shortly after the NIT loss, Speights put his name in the draft without hiring an agent. Ramker said Speights is in the process of signing with Andy Miller of ASM Enterprises. Miller represents close to 20 NBA players, including Kevin Garnett and Chauncey Billups.
With Speights gone, Florida will return four starters this season. Sophomores Alex Tyus and Chandler Parsons appear the early candidates to replace Speights in the starting lineup. Incoming freshmen Kenny Kadji (6-10, 255 pounds) and Eloy Vargas (6-9, 220) also could emerge as candidates and will provide depth in the frontcourt that the Gators lacked last season. Vargas is still awaiting academic approval from the NCAA to compete next season.