Mack leaning towards school, but not UK

Don't believe the reports about former Florida-signee Doneal Mack heading to Kentucky and academic problems leading to Florida and Mack cutting ties.

That's what Mack's former high school coach John Jordan told Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer. Jordan said the four-star guard told Florida coaches he didn't want to play for the Gators because of the wealth of players they had at his position, and that his next destination won't be another SEC school, but instead the premier program in Conference-USA.

Multiple media outlets recently reported that Mack failed to make the necessary test score to enroll at UF and that he would likely end up at Kentucky.

"Doneal asked for his release and Florida gave it to him," said Jordan, who coached Mack at Statesville (N.C.) Christian school. "It was a deal where his position was frankly just over recruited and he knew he had an opportunity to go other places.

"I'd be very surprised if he didn't end up at Memphis. Coach (John) Calipari is a former NBA coach and Doneal's goal is to make it to the NBA. Plus, they lost a couple of their top players to the draft so it would be a very good fit. There is nothing official yet, but he is heavily leaning towards Memphis."

Jordan said Kentucky is one of a handful of other major programs that have shown interest since he received his release, along with Tennessee, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Mack, who is ranked Rivals.com's No. 47 prospect, was one of two shooting guards that made up Florida's five-man recruiting class, joining three-star prospect Brandon Powell out of Mitchell High in Memphis. The Gators also landed two small forwards, including a late addition in former N.C. State-signee Dan Werner, who operates primarily on the perimeter.

It would have been tough to earn playing time at Florida regardless of the makeup of its recruiting class. The Gators return all five starters and all key reserves from a team that captured the 2005-06 national title.

At Memphis, at least three starting jobs are open. Point guard Darius Washington, Jr., and small forward Shawne Williams left early for the draft - Williams was taken in the first round and Washington was not drafted - and small forward Rodney Carney - who was also a first-round pick - was the lone senior on last year's team.