The '04 Gator Boys have the ties that bind
The '04s of Joakim Noah, from left, Corey Brewer, Taurean Green and Al Horford laugh while recalling a food fight that took place in their dorm over winter break during their freshman year Thursday afternoon after announcing their plans to enter the NBA Draft.
"The '04s" of Joakim Noah, from left, Corey Brewer, Taurean Green and Al Horford laugh while recalling a food fight that took place in their dorm over winter break during their freshman year Thursday afternoon after announcing their plans to enter the NBA Draft.
Jarrett Baker/The Gainesville Sun
Al Horford couldn't hold back the tears.
Moments after Horford and the rest of the Florida junior class announced their intentions to leave school for the NBA Draft, he was asked about his emotions in making such a difficult decision.
Horford broke down.
"It was just realizing that this is it," Horford said. "It's been a great experience. Not only these guys, but all my teammates and the staff, kind of got a little emotional when I saw the assistant coaches were down. It kind of hit me."
Horford and junior teammates Joakim Noah, Taurean Green and Corey Brewer declared for the draft Thursday, a day before tonight's ceremony at the O'Connell Center that will celebrate their majestic accomplishments.
Looking back
After Florida won its first national title in 2006, many felt then-projected first-round draft picks Horford, Joakim Noah and Brewer would leave for NBA millions.
Instead, the three stayed with Green in an effort to become the first team since Duke in 1992 to repeat as national champions.
Florida completed the mission Monday, beating Ohio State 84-75 in the Georgia Dome to claim back-to-back titles.
"What we did was more than basketball," Joakim Noah said. "We followed our hearts.
"We came back to accomplish something. And we did it together and I did with my boys. It doesn't get any better than that."
With increased expectations and scrutiny, Florida overcame a late-February rough patch to win 10 straight games in March and April.
After winning the title, Florida coach Billy Donovan first joked with them about them being ready for another run. Then, later that night at the team hotel, Donovan advised them to leave.
"They were prepared and ready to make the next step," Donovan said. "The growth and development they made as players this year, through having to deal with the year before, from no expectation and then having to deal with all the expectations, I just felt like it was right for them. They had my blessing on it."
Since becoming starters together as sophomores with junior guard Lee Humphrey, the four juniors have compiled a 68-11 record over two seasons. The juniors have been part of three straight SEC Tournament titles and this season guided Florida to its first outright SEC regular-season crown since 1989.
"We're winners," Brewer said. "When you think about Florida basketball, and some of the great teams in college basketball, you have to think about us."
From the beginning, the juniors played a selfless brand of basketball, with a commitment to defense. All five of the Florida starters averaged double figures in scoring in each of the last two seasons.
"We're all different," Brewer said. "Lee is really different. But that's what made it so fun playing together."
A team off the court
Together, the four juniors created a bond off the court, living in the same campus apartment all three years.
During the news conference, the players recalled some of their favorite moments, such as the food fights they had as sophomores.
The four juniors acknowledged they had a pretty good idea that this was going to be their last run during the course of this season. Green was the only one unsure, awaiting feedback from Donovan when the season ended.
"Coach isn't going to tell me what he heard during the season because that would be a distraction," Green said. "Coach told me after the season you have to go, there's nothing left for me to prove."
Brewer, Horford and Joakim Noah still project as NBA first-round draft picks, with the 6-foot point guard Green a potential late first or early second-rounder.
The Web site nbadraft.net projects the 6-foot-10 Horford as the fourth overall pick, 6-11 Joakim Noah as the sixth overall pick.
Brewer, the 2007 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, is slotted as the eighth overall pick.
All four players say they intend to hire agents by the end of the semester, meaning they will not be able to return.
"I'm totally committed to preparing for the draft," Green said.
With their accomplishments on and off the court, the four juniors expect the bond they created to carry over into their professional careers.
"I think we're going to be close friends the rest of our lives," Brewer said. "We're always going to be close friends. We talk about reunions. We're always going to keep in touch."
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