Posted on 04/03/2006 10:57:46 PM PDT by Do not dub me shapka broham
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Billy Donovan's job as a recruiter just got a lot easier.
Another trip to the Final Four gives Florida Gators coach even more to sell, but the Gators' first national title means Donovan has a good chance to sign anyone he wants, said one of the nation's top recruiting analysts.
"Billy Donovan is one of the most dangerous recruiters out there," said Dave Telep of Scout.com, in his 10th year as a national analyst. "When he locks into a guy, he works them over into submission."
Recruiting in a climate of NCAA Tournament struggles the past five seasons, Donovan signed one of the nation's top classes in 2005. That sophomore class produced four starters in Monday night's game, led by 6-foot-11 Joakim Noah.
Shooting guard Nick Calathes, Florida's Mr. Basketball, committed to Donovan for 2007 and plans to sign this fall. A 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Winter Park, Calathes is a top-25 recruit, Telep said.
Telep said many of the top recruits for '07 are locked up, but he expects Donovan's 2008 class to be scary — scarier with Monday's win.
"Getting to the Final Four takes recruiting to another level," Telep said. "Winning it takes it to another level from there. It just puts that much more in your street-cred account."
;0)
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