Growing up in the shadow of Baltimore, Md., Allan Chaney was constantly moving - on the court, during late nights with friends, moving anywhere but the right direction.
"It was kind of hard for me growing up there - a lot of distractions and everything," Chaney said.
After his freshman year at Brooklandville St. Paul's High, Chaney's mother had seen enough.
She decided her son would move to New London, Conn., to live with his grandmother.
"My brother did the same thing and it worked out for him, so I figured it would work out for me," Chaney said.
To Chaney, New London seemed about as far away from the streets of Baltimore as he could get.
"It was a very small city, so there wasn't much to do besides play basketball," he said.
Basketball became Chaney's release - a place where he could escape the temptations and distractions. It's a place where he'll continue to escape tonight when UF takes on Southern Utah at 8 in the O'Connell Center.
Chaney had to adjust to not only a new school, but also a new position.
Thanks to a growth spurt during his freshman year, he was no longer able to play guard - a position he had played all his life.
"I went to playing power forward, and I didn't really like it," Chaney said. "But then I moved up to Connecticut and coach (Calvin) Bunkley changed that."
Chaney credits Bunkley, his coach at New London High School, for molding him into the prospect he became.
"He helped me learn how to bang," Chaney said.
Now, as a freshman at UF, the No. 19 Gators (2-0) are counting on Chaney's continued development.
"Allan has very, very good natural instinctive ability around the basket. I think he's going to be a very good post-up player," UF coach Billy Donovan said. "He's clearly one of our best rebounders."
With sophomore Alex Tyus playing out of position at center this year and the slow development of fellow freshman Kenny Kadji, Donovan hopes Chaney will provide much-needed depth in the frontcourt.
He scored 9 points in the Gators' game against Bradley on Sunday.
Donovan, who said he is pleased with the effort he has seen out of Chaney so far this season, insists that once he can build up his stamina, Chaney will see more minutes.
"We did all that conditioning, but you still have to run hard on every play," Chaney said. "The game is so much faster (than high school). You can get lost out there"
As Chaney walks across the sunny streets of Gainesville, he hasn't forgotten what it was like in the shadows of Baltimore. The city his mother pushed him away from still holds a special place in his heart.
"Carmelo Anthony - that's my favorite player," Chaney said of the Baltimore native. "I still have a poster that he signed for me. It's on the wall in my room back in Baltimore."
While Donovan appreciates Chaney's hometown ties, he isn't ready to make comparisons with the former Syracuse All-American.
"I wouldn't say he's Carmelo Anthony," Donovan joked.
