James Wilder Jr., regarded as the nation's top high school football prospect by MaxPreps.com, isn't the only star athlete making news at
Plant (Tampa, Fla.).
Wilder Jr. generated national headlines with his commitment to Florida State last Wednesday, but class of 2012 basketball star Michael Frazier opted for the rival Florida Gators late Monday night, according to Panther head coach Mike Phillips.
"He's definitely not trying to upstage anybody," Phillips joked. "It's all about work for him. He isn't worried about any of the other stuff and recruiting was cutting into his time."
Frazier, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound shooting guard, averaged 26.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season at Plant, earning third team Sophomore All-American honors from MaxPreps.com. He is rated No. 30 in Tuesday's release of the Class of 2012 Top 100.
The pledge solidifies Florida head coach Billy Donovan's reputation as a magnet for elite guards. Gator sophomore Kenny Boynton was regarded as a Top 10 recruit nationally in the 2009 class. Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.) shooting guard Bradley Beal, the No. 5 overall player in the 2011 class, is committed to joining the program next fall.
According to Phillips, recruiting wasn't on Frazier's mind until recently when the flood of attention from schools all over the country became more than he wanted to deal with.
"It was a wide-open game," Phillips said. "It was something he never thought about. When Coach Donovan offered, I'm not sure that wasn't it right there.
"It's all about academics and all about family for him. He wasn't going to make a decision until his mother visited on an unofficial and met with Coach Donovan."
Frazier played this summer with the Florida Elite club team and is the Gators' first 2012 commitment.
