Ray Shipman stood on the sidelines and watched as Florida's basketball team was recognized on the field prior to the Gators' football game against Tennessee this past weekend. Shipman, a 6-foot-3 prospect who committed to Florida on June 21, was shocked at the crowd noise in The Swamp.
"It was great how they were applauding," Shipman said. "I've never seen any team from any school get that much appreciation from the crowd. I live in Florida so I know what it's all about. Now it's my time to get a piece of it."
Shipman was joined by 6-foot-10 center Kenny Kadji, who also committed to the Gators in late June. Rivals.com rates Kadji as the third-best player at his position and the No. 17 prospect overall in the 2008 class. Shipman said he and Kadji cannot wait to get on campus.
"We're so excited about everything," Shipman said. "We just can't wait. We're so anxious to get our senior seasons over with and get to Florida."
It was a huge recruiting weekend for the football team. The basketball team also had a few recruits in attendance for Florida's 59-20 victory over Tennessee. Shipman, Kadji and the Gators' most recent commitment, Allan Chaney, were expected to be on campus. Chaney had a breakout summer and became a national recruit after averaging 25 points and 14 rebounds per game last season.
Erving Walker, a 5-foot-6 dynamo from Middle Village (N.Y.) Christ The King, was at Florida. He's rated as the 29th best point guard in the class. Two top 2009 prospects were there as well in Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick guard Dexter Strickland and Southborough (Mass.) St. Mark's forward Erik Murphy.
Strickland is a 6-foot-3 prospect rated as the third-best point guard and No. 16 prospect in the junior class. He mainly played off the ball this past season at St. Patrick because the team had Villanova commit Corey Fisher running the point. Florida, Michigan State, Ohio State, Villanova, Arizona and a host of others are pursuing him.
Murphy is a 6-foot-8, 210-pound recruit whose father played at Boston College. Rivals.com rates him as the ninth-best player at his position nationally and the No. 34 overall recruit. He's gained the reputation of being fundamentally sound around the basket and of being a smart player. Marquette, Virginia, UConn and others are also interested.
"They were all going crazy," Shipman said. "They were cheering and wearing big shirts and by the time the game was over they were all in tank tops. At first we were all cheering like crazy but then it got so hot and it took all our energy."