Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

LeBron James, left, and Dwyane Wade speak to the media after the Miami Heat’s 104-87 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA finals on Sunday night.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Rally: What will happen to the Miami Heat’s “Big Three” this summer?

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | June 16, 2014

The Miami Heat lost 4-1 in the NBA finals against the San Antonio Spurs, which leaves Miami with a 2-2 record in the Finals over the past four seasons. LeBron James now has the opportunity to leave town to pursue greener pastures after earning two rings in South Beach while Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh attempt to recover from an ugly championship series. Today, alligatorSports editor Jonathan Czupryn and assistant editor Richard Johnson debate what will become of the Heat going into the offseason.

Chauncey Gardner does the Gator Chomp in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in a photo from his Twitter account (StillDat_) on June 15.

SPORTS | RECRUITING

Defensive back recruit flips commitment from Miami to UF

By MORGAN MORIARTY | June 16, 2014

Florida flipped a 2016 recruit from in-state rival Miami over the weekend. 2016 defensive back Chauncey “CJ” Gardner (5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Cocoa Beach, Fla., Cocoa High) switched his commitment to UF on Saturday afternoon. Gardner attended Saturday’s session of Will Muschamp’s football camp and was offered a scholarship by coaches while he was still on campus.

Florida's Marquis Dendy reacts after competing in the long jump at the 2014 NCAA track and field championships on Thursday in Eugene, Oregon.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS

Florida men finish second, women fourth at NCAA Outdoors

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | June 14, 2014

The men’s track and field team fell just short of earning its third straight national outdoor championship after finishing in second to Oregon.

Florida's Brittany Harrell competes in the heptathlon long jump at the NCAA track and field championships on Friday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS

Schnulle, Harrell, Brewer take home top-three finishes on Day 3 of NCAA Outdoors

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | June 13, 2014

In what could’ve ended in a day full of titles, only three were held high.

Marquis Dendy competes at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Track Championships on Feb. 23, 2013, in Fayetteville, Ark. Dendy won the long jump on Day 2 of the NCAA Outdoors Championships on Thursday in Eugene, Ore.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS

Dendy wins long jump on Day 2 of NCAA Outdoors

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | June 12, 2014

After placing their first individual title from the field at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Day 1, the Gators continued to pile on the hardware.

Former Florida wide receivers coach Joker Phillips watches the Gators warm up before Florida’s 24-7 victorty against Kentucky on Sept. 28 in Lexington, Ky. Phillips resigned Wednesday after just one year as UF’s wide receivers coach.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Phillips resigns as wide receivers coach for personal reasons

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | June 11, 2014

One year, six months and eight days after he officially joined the Florida football staff, Joker Phillips is out as the Gators’ wide receivers coach after resigning Wednesday, according to the school’s website.

Offensive coordinator Kurt Roper addresses the media during his introductory press conference on Jan. 13. Four-star quarterback Sheriron Jones, who was recruited by Roper, committed to Florida on Sunday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Four-star QB verbally commits after attending football camp

By MORGAN MORIARTY | June 11, 2014

Florida has landed its quarterback of the future.

Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem shoots against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators in NBA Finals not producing due to limited minutes

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 11, 2014

With the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs still vying for an NBA championship, two former Gators are playing, but neither is making much of a contribution to his team’s postseason run.

Mike Holloway looks on during the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships on Nov. 1, 2013, at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS

UF sprinters off to fast start at NCAA Outdoors

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | June 11, 2014

After the Gators’ subpar effort from the previous NCAA Indoors, the Florida track squads had another chance at redemption.

Florida coach Will Muschamp talks with reporters during the Southeastern Conference football Media Days in Hoover, Ala., on July 16, 2013. Muschamp held a football camp over the weekend for potential recruits.

SPORTS | RECRUITING

Recruits get taste of Florida football during Muschamp’s camp

By MORGAN MORIARTY | June 9, 2014

This weekend was a busy one as coaches held the first session of Will Muschamp’s football camp. In Friday’s 7-on-7 tournament, Booker T. Washington wide receiver Antonio Calloway was on campus participating in the tournament. Calloway has named Florida as his leader and Miami as a close second.

Justin Shafer bats during Florida’s 4-0 win against Maryland on Feb. 14 at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Six Gators taken in MLB Draft

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | June 9, 2014

After a disappointing ending to an otherwise successful season, Florida had six of its 11 eligible players selected in the MLB Draft – two on Friday and four on Saturday.

Kelsey Stewart bats during Florida's 7-6 win against Auburn on April 5 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Stewart finished her sophomore season with a team-best .438 batting average while setting UF's single-season record for hits (102) and tying her record for stolen bases (36).

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Kelsey Stewart, Michelle Moultrie invited to US Softball National Team tryouts

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 9, 2014

Kelsey Stewart’s season may not be over just yet.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

O’Leary named Coach of the Year, players rack up offseason awards

By EDEN OTERO | June 9, 2014

It was an important year for Florida.

SPORTS | RECRUITING

Gators land four-star QB Sheriron Jones

By MORGAN MORIARTY | June 8, 2014

Florida landed its 2015 quarterback. Four-star prospect Sheriron Jones, out of Moreno Valley (Calif.) Rancho Valley High School, verbally committed to Florida on Sunday, as first reported by Rivals.com.

United States' Jozy Altidore (17) and Nigeria's GoDrey Oboabona (14) vie for control of the ball during the second half of an international friendly soccer match on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. The United States won 2-1.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Jozy jumpstarts national team in final sendoff game

By RICHARD JOHNSON | June 7, 2014

JACKSONVILLE — Jozy Altidore finally scored a goal.

Spectators walk past a barricaded area where a fan fell on Saturday during the United States' 2-1 win against Nigeria at EverBank Field

SPORTS | SOCCER

Fan falls 42 feet from stands in EverBank Field at US friendly

By RICHARD JOHNSON | June 7, 2014

JACKSONVILLE — A 24-year-old man remains in critical condition as of Monday evening at UF Health Jacksonville after falling 42 feet from the stands onto the concourse outside of section 244 of EverBank Field.

Three-star offensive tackle Jalen Merrick walks off of the Sanders Practice Fields on Saturday. Merrick has been committed to UF since January.

SPORTS | RECRUITING

Florida recruiting targets attend UF camps

By MORGAN MORIARTY | June 7, 2014

The first weekend of Will Muschamp’s annual football camps continued on Saturday, and a number of Florida targets and commits were on hand.

Will Muschamp instructs players during Florida’s first open practice on March 19 at Sanders Practice Fields.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Recruits participate in UF football camps

By MORGAN MORIARTY | June 6, 2014

When it comes to high school football recruiting, there is no such thing as an offseason. The 2014 session of Will Muschamp’s football camps kicked off Friday afternoon, featuring some of the best high school football players from across the state.

Tight end Jake McGee speaks to reporters on Thursday. McGee, a Virginia transfer, led the Cavaliers in receptions and receiving yards in 2013.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

McGee looks to revive UF's tight end production in 2014

By RICHARD JOHNSON | June 5, 2014

A revamped Florida offense seemed to be missing a piece coming out of spring practice. In the crippled passing attack that threw for only 2051 yards in 2013 -- 12th in the SEC and 109th in the nation -- tight ends weren’t much of a focal point if any could be found in an inept offense.

Miami Heat forward LeBron James participates in practice on Wednesday in San Antonio, Texas. The Heat face the San Antonio Spurs tonight for Game 1.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

NBA Finals fire up in Texas

By RICHARD JOHNSON | June 4, 2014

And so they meet again, the two foes that could not be more different.