Florida lands Michigan native
Even if their recruiting class stayed at just one, Florida coaches would have been happy with a class of just five-star Brad Beal. But, Billy Donovan and the Gators really wanted to add an athletic big man and they did on Wednesday when Walter Pitchford pulled the trigger on a commitment.
A fluid 6-foot-9 power forward at Summit Christian in East Lansing, Mich., Pitchford committed after visiting Gainesville over the weekend.
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"I just love the coaching staff, I really like the players," Pitchford told Rivals.com. "The players have a strong relationship and a strong bond. I really like that."
Not only was Pitchford impressed with the locker room environment, he felt that the entire campus was a closeknit community.
"I like how everybody comes together and is involved," said Pitchford. "They take athletics serious, they take academics serious."
Although Florida is a long way from his Michigan home, the three-star prospect feels like a couple of years in prep school have helped to prepare him for the independence he'll experience in college.
"One of the main things is that you are on your own and you're not living at home," said Pitchford. "You are going to get mature living on your own."