Lucas and Florida recruits await word from Donovan

	Jai Lucas took his time in committing to Florida, but now he is waiting to see if Billy Donovan will be on campus in the fall. AP

For the sake of Florida's basketball recruits, it's a good thing weekend cell phone minutes are free.

Left in limbo as Billy Donovan, their future head coach, bolted to the NBA's Orlando Magic on Friday -- only to have a change of heart and want to return later in the weekend -- the members of Florida's hoops class of 2011 have kept each other on speed dial. "We talk about it every day," says Bellaire (Houston) point guard Jai Lucas. "When this news broke [that Donovan was trying to return], they called me. It was 12:30 last night. We're all in the same position."

Lucas says Florida's assistant coaches have been in touch with him and fellow signees Nick Calathes and Chandler Parsons of Lake Howell High (Winter Park, Fla.), Adam Allen of Milton (Fla.) High and Alex Tyus of Harmony Christian (Cincinnati). Still, the recruits have largely been kept in the dark. "I don't have any inside information or anything," Lucas says. "It's just crazy, I haven't seen anything like it."

His father -- former NBA player and coach John Lucas -- understood why Donovan would be tempted to leave for the Magic, even if he wasn't convinced that was the best move for the 10-year Gators coach.

"I always thought that he might just because of the lure of coaching at the next level, but I see him as a great college coach," says John Lucas. "In college you have all the power. In the pros you have to get along with a $50 million payroll. "... He just strikes me as a career college guy."

Lucas, a McDonald's All-American like Calathes, only signed with Florida on May 16, one of the last blue chip recruits to choose a college, and when he heard the news that Donovan was leaving, he left open the possibility of asking UF to be released from his letter of intent.

"[Donovan's] one of the main reasons I signed with Florida," says the 5-foot-10, 150-pound Lucas, who averaged 25.0 points and 7.5 assists as a senior. "He's a players' coach. When you get in the room with him, you know why so many players are attracted to play for him. And him being a point guard in the NBA and college, he can help me reach my goals of playing pro."

Having already endured a long and at times arduous recruiting process, Lucas admitted going through it again was one of the last things on his mind. For now, his one concern is this: When he reports to Gainesville on June 26, all Lucas wants is for Donovan to be there to greet him. "I hope so," he says with a laugh.