Erik Murphy has joined a long list of former Gator basketball players taken in the NBA draft.
There have been 17 in all since Billy Donovan took over the UF program in 1996. The 17-year Gator coach has produced ready-made NBA players with his pick-and-roll, motion offense. The 6-foot-10 Murphy was taken in the second round (49th overall) by the Chicago Bulls because of his combination of size and shooting ability.
Here’s a look at UF’s 17 draft picks in Donovan’s tenure:
1998 — Jason Williams, G, first round (seventh overall), Sacramento Kings
2000 — Mike Miller, G-F, first round (fifth overall), Orlando Magic
2000 — Donnell Harvey, F, first round (22nd overall), New York Knicks
2003 — Matt Bonner, F, second round (45th overall), Chicago Bulls
2004 — Christian Drejer, G, second round (51st overall), New Jersey Nets
2005 — David Lee, F, first round (30th overall), New York Knicks
2007 — Al Horford, F-C, first round (third overall), Atlanta Hawks
2007 — Corey Brewer, F, first round (seventh overall), Minnesota Timberwolves
2007 — Joakim Noah, C, first round (ninth overall), Chicago Bulls
2007 — Chris Richard, F-C, second round (41st overall), Minnesota Timberwolves
2007 — Taurean Green, G, second round (52nd overall), Portland Trail Blazers
2008 — Marreese Speights, C, first round (16th overall), Philadelphia 76ers
2009 — Nick Calathes, G, second round (45th overall), Minnesota Timberwolves
2011 — Chandler Parsons, F, second round (38th overall), Houston Rockets
2011 — Vernon Macklin, C, second round (52nd overall), Detroit Pistons
2012 — Bradley Beal, G, first round (third overall), Washinton Wizards
2013 — Erik Murphy, F, second round (49th overall), Chicago Bulls.
Of note:
– Florida’s three consecutive Elite Eight seasons have produced four NBA draft picks, but only one player (Bradley Beal) has been taken in the first round. The run has produced good talent, but not quite Final Four-level talent.
– Nine of the draft picks have been taken in the first round. Eight have gone in the second round.
– If you count 6-foot-8 swingman Mike Miller as a guard, Florida’s 17 draft picks under Donovan include 11 frontcourt players and six guards. Of the six guards picked, only two (Miller and Beal) are still currently playing in the NBA. Jason Williams is retired after a 14-year NBA career.
– In a testament to Donovan’s player development, only six of UF’s 17 draft picks were McDonald’s All-Americans coming out of high school (Beal, Calathes, Miller, Harvey, Brewer and Lee).
– Of the 17 picks, only two were one-and-done (Harvey and Beal), while five (Bonner, Lee, Parsons, Macklin, Murphy) stayed all four years. Of the five who stayed four years, only one (Lee) was a first-round draft pick.
