Gator men’s basketball player Erik Murphy is now in the NBA, lots of trades in the NBA, and the Gator men’s hoops gets a verbal commitment, all in our Friday Sports News and Notes…
** Former Gator hoops star Erik Murphy will continue his basketball career in the NBA after being selected in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. The top selection was forward Anthony Bennett by Cleveland and the Orlando Magic took Indiana guard Victor Oladipo with the second pick.
** Lots of trades coming out of the NBA Draft as well; Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel fell to the sixth pick and was taken by New Orleans who then dealt him to Philadelphia. Michigan guard Trey Burke was taken by Minnesota but then he was traded to Utah and Miami guard Shane Larkin was taken by Atlanta but then traded to Dallas.
** It looks like the Boston Celtics are going to trade veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets. Sources say other players and first round draft choices will also be part of the deal which cannot formally be announced until July.
** The Gator men’s basketball team gets a verbal commitment according to reports from 6’8″ combo guard Brandone Francis from Arlington Country Day in Jacksonville. He is a 2014 verbal commitment.
** The University of Florida finishes second in the Director’s Cup, an award given annually by athletic director’s that recognizes overall sports performances by schools in an academic year. Stanford won the award.
** Aaron Hernandez has been denied bail a second time and he has returned to jail, facing a murder charge.
** At Wimbledon, things return to normal after a weird week in which many former number one players were beaten and other top seeds lost. Both top seeds won and no major seeded players lost on Thursday.