Donovan encouraged by freshmen

One player is a heralded McDonald’s All-American expected to step in and score right away. The other is a son of a former NBA player that Florida coach Billy Donovan faced in college.

Versatile guard Kenny Boynton and forward/center Erik Murphy compose a Florida freshman men’s basketball class that’s short on experience but long on promise.

So far, Donovan is encouraged with both Boynton and Murphy because they reported to camp in excellent shape.

“That’s allowed us to sustain a level of intensity in practice that we were unable to sustain last season,” Donovan said.

Boynton, rated as high as ninth in the nation in the Class of 2009 by ESPN.com, could wind up replacing departed senior Walter Hodge as shooting guard when Florida opens the season Nov. 15 against Stetson. Boynton has scored as many as 61 points in a game during his high school career. He’s a threat to get to basket off the dribble and score from the perimeter.

But Boynton, who scored 10 points as a McDonald’s All-American last April, doesn’t feel pressure to replace the scoring void left by departed point guard Nick Calathes. Calathes led Florida in scoring with 17.2 points per game last season.

“I just feel like whatever is needed, I can do it,” Boynton said. “I think everyone here can score.”

Boynton (6-foot-2, 183 pounds) said he is focusing as hard on his defense and his point guard skills, in case he has to spell projected starting point guard Erving Walker for some stretches.

“(Coach) told me before I even came in we had to get better as a team defensively,” Boynton said. “So that’s something I’m trying to work on.”

Donovan has noticed Boynton’s commitment to defense in practice.

“He’s a guy that plays both ends of the floor,” Donovan said. “I think he’s going to be a very good guy in our press. He can defend. I think he takes pride his defense.

“He can score. He can do a lot of things off the dribble. There is things he can really do offensively. But I can say he takes a lot of pride in playing the other end of the floor. And I think when you’ve got a guy who knows the importance of playing on that end you are probably are more inclined to give that guy more freedom on the offensive end.”

Murphy, at 6-9, 217 pounds, worked out at both forward and center over the weekend.

“The best thing he has going for him is he’s in very good shape,” Donovan said. “He’s the kind of guy that keeps motoring, keeps trucking.”

A standout at St. Mark’s Prep School in Massachusetts, Murphy is the son of former Boston College standout Jay Murphy. When Donovan was a freshman at Providence, he faced the elder Murphy, who was a senior at Boston College. Jay Murphy went on to play four NBA seasons (1984-88) with the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Bullets.

Murphy said that he and his dad often played one-on-one on the driveway outside his home in South Kingstown, R.I.

“It took a while, but I finally started beating him two years ago,” Murphy said.

Murphy was first recruited by former UF assistant Lewis Preston, then Donovan. During one interesting recruiting visit at St. Mark’s School, Donovan had the wallet from his back pocket picked by a five-year-old son of a school faculty member (the wallet was returned.)

Murphy said Donovan played a big impact in his decision to come to Florida. Donovan remains a legend in the New England region for helping lead Providence to the 1987 Final Four.

“It was a big factor,” Murphy said, I like the way he coaches a lot and the way the team gets up and down.”

Donovan compared Murphy to another player he recruited from the New England region, former New Hampshire high school basketball standout Matt Bonner.

“Erik is probably a little further along in the low post than Matt was, whereas Matt was probably better on the perimeter,” Donovan said. “Based on what I’ve seen the first two days here, I’d have no problems putting (Murphy) in the game because he’s going to work hard, he’s going to give you a good effort. He can go in there and rebound. He is an offensive threat both inside and out.”

A third potential member of UF’s freshman class, Israeli point guard Nimrod Tishman, also held his own during the first weekend of workouts. Tishman is still awaiting clearance from the NCAA to appear in games but can practice with the rest of the team.

“He’s been a pleasant surprise,” Donovan said. “I was really worried about stamina, coming from overseas, the pace of practice. He’s done a pretty good job and is a really good passer.”

Preseason All-SEC

Florida was picked to finish fifth in the SEC East in the All-SEC preseason men’s college basketball poll released Monday.

No members of the Gators made the UF first-and-second team. Kentucky was the overwhelming choice to win the SEC title, receiving 20 of 25 first-place votes. Journalists who cover the league on a regular basis were selected to vote in the poll.

Rowdy Reptile Event

Florida will hold its inaugural Rowdy Fest on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the O’Connell Center. The event will serve as a tip-off party exclusively for UF students. Florida team members and coaches will be on hand for the event.

UF students with a valid ID can enter through Gate 3. The first 500 students will receive free pizza and drinks.