Will Donovan Move Impact Samardo?

With Billy Donovan's decision to leave the two-time NCAA champion Florida Gators to coach the NBA's Orlando Magic, the next question is: How will this impact the current Gators and those players the program was recruiting?

St. Benedict's 6-9 junior forward Samardo Samuels had been targeted by Florida, and Samuels has listed Florida among his Top 5, along with North Carolina, Georgetown, Louisville and UConn. St. Benedict's coach Danny Hurley has also told ZAGSBLOG that Rutgers is a "legitimate option" for Samuels, and that Seton Hall is also in the picture.

Mike Minto, a fellow Jamaican and an advisor to Samuels, said he doesn't think Donovan's decision automatically removes Florida from the Samuels sweepstakes.

"Florida has a strong program," said Minto, a former player at Division 2 Cedarville (Ohio) College and current Treasurer of Jamaican Basketball Development Inc. "I don't really think the coach himself will influence his decision. He hasn't made a decision where he wants to go. I don't think think it will make a difference at all."

Minto added that he thinks Samuels could make his decision "probably at the end of the summer."