2008 Woodie Awards
Gators drafted top 10
Issue date: 7/5/07 Section: Sports
By Dave Curtis
The Orlando Sentinel
(MCT)
At a quiet spot in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, three old teammates savored another few moments together.
Ex-Gators Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer laughed at the old jokes, reflected on the old stories and wondered about their future. Inside them, unspoken all night, lay a frightening question: When would they find a time and a place to enjoy an evening like this again?
Thursday night, Florida's "04's" became the NBA "07's" during the NBA draft at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theater. Horford went third to the Hawks, Brewer seventh to the Timberwolves and Noah ninth to the Bulls; together, they became the first troika of teammates selected in the top 10 of the same draft.
"Their selections tonight are a true testament of how hard they've worked," UF Coach Billy Donovan said in a statement. "To have three players selected in the first nine picks of the NBA draft is truly incredible."
"It's a new beginning for all of us," Horford said. "We're excited. We had a great time at Florida. But it's time for us to go our separate ways."
But Thursday night belonged to UF's Big Three. The NBA included them among the 15 players invited to watch the draft, and they sat with their families at a cluster of tables just below the stage.
Horford went first, earning hugs from his two friends on the way to the stage. Horford delivered a Gator chomp as he strolled across that stage; below, his father waved a small Dominican Republic flag.
Three picks passed, and then the Timberwolves tapped Brewer. Then Noah sat alone, his jitters growing with each passing second. He had passed the time since Horford's selection by chatting with Brewer. Now Brewer was gone, and his absence added to his nerves.
"When he wasn't there and I couldn't joke around with him," Noah said later, "those moments felt so long. But I'm really happy for all those guys."
And they were happy for him 10 minutes later, when the Bulls added him with the ninth selection. Noah held his hands together in a prayerful pose as Commissioner David Stern announced his name, then buried his arm in the shoulder of his mother, Cecilia Rhode.
"All this means a lot," Noah said. "I'm really proud of my teammates. This is such an exciting time for all of us."
The Orlando Sentinel
(MCT)
At a quiet spot in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, three old teammates savored another few moments together.
Ex-Gators Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer laughed at the old jokes, reflected on the old stories and wondered about their future. Inside them, unspoken all night, lay a frightening question: When would they find a time and a place to enjoy an evening like this again?
Thursday night, Florida's "04's" became the NBA "07's" during the NBA draft at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theater. Horford went third to the Hawks, Brewer seventh to the Timberwolves and Noah ninth to the Bulls; together, they became the first troika of teammates selected in the top 10 of the same draft.
"Their selections tonight are a true testament of how hard they've worked," UF Coach Billy Donovan said in a statement. "To have three players selected in the first nine picks of the NBA draft is truly incredible."
"It's a new beginning for all of us," Horford said. "We're excited. We had a great time at Florida. But it's time for us to go our separate ways."
But Thursday night belonged to UF's Big Three. The NBA included them among the 15 players invited to watch the draft, and they sat with their families at a cluster of tables just below the stage.
Horford went first, earning hugs from his two friends on the way to the stage. Horford delivered a Gator chomp as he strolled across that stage; below, his father waved a small Dominican Republic flag.
Three picks passed, and then the Timberwolves tapped Brewer. Then Noah sat alone, his jitters growing with each passing second. He had passed the time since Horford's selection by chatting with Brewer. Now Brewer was gone, and his absence added to his nerves.
"When he wasn't there and I couldn't joke around with him," Noah said later, "those moments felt so long. But I'm really happy for all those guys."
And they were happy for him 10 minutes later, when the Bulls added him with the ninth selection. Noah held his hands together in a prayerful pose as Commissioner David Stern announced his name, then buried his arm in the shoulder of his mother, Cecilia Rhode.
"All this means a lot," Noah said. "I'm really proud of my teammates. This is such an exciting time for all of us."
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