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Zook moves quickly to wrap up commitments

TAMPA -- When Ron Zook was hired Wednesday as football coach, he said he would "hit the ground running" in recruiting.

He promised to be on the road this week, trying to salvage potential recruits that might be wavering after the resignation of coach Steve Spurrier.

Zook has been true to his word. After hosting about 21 recruits over the weekend, he was at Tallahassee Lincoln High on Monday afternoon, then spent Monday night at the home of Lincoln quarterback Gavin Dickey.

Dickey orally committed to Florida after that meeting.

Dickey made an official visit while Spurrier was at the helm, so it was up to Zook to convince him Florida was still the place for him.

"I think he wanted to see Coach Zook to his face, talk to him and get a feel," said David Wilson, Dickey's high school coach. "I think when he took his trip he really liked Florida and he had a good visit with Coach Spurrier, who promised that he could play quarterback. He wants to play quarterback."

Dickey, 6 feet and 190 pounds, was 43-5 as a starter. He led Lincoln to a Class 4A title this season and threw for 2,628 yards and 32 touchdowns.

"We've won games the last three years and went to two state championships," Wilson said. "He's doing real good. He's an athlete, he has the ability to run and pass and he does all the right things."

Dickey is rated the No. 4 dual-threat quarterback in the nation by Rivals 100.

Over the weekend, Zook also persuaded Jacksonville First Coast quarterback Reggie Lewis to commit. Lewis orally committed to LSU, but changed his mind after a visit to UF.

He threw for nearly 1,800 yards last season but will play receiver.

AILING: The men's basketball team will be without guard Justin Hamilton tonight when it hosts LSU.

Hamilton dislocated his right shoulder in Saturday's game against Vanderbilt.

Coach Billy Donovan said doctors found no structural damage to the bones and no ligaments were torn. Hamilton had 90 percent range of motion and could play Saturday against Georgia, Donovan said, stressing that rest is the best thing for Hamilton.

Donovan said he is unsure who play start at point guard.

"We feel like we've got two point guards in Orien (Green) and Brett (Nelson) that can play back there and who have gotten a lot of reps back there," Donovan said. "I think it's unfortunate that Justin went down because he's playing really well."

NATIONAL RECOGNITION: Sophomore center Vanessa Hayden will be featured in Faces In the Crowd in next week's issue of Sports Illustrated.

Hayden will be recognized for the second triple double in school history on Dec. 29. Hayden had 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks, breaking Florida's 22-year-old shot block record.

Hayden leads the nation in blocks (4.7 per game) and is second nationally in rebounds (13.5). The Orlando native also leads the SEC in blocks and double doubles.

- Antonya English covers Florida athletics. She can be reached at (813) 226-3389 or english@sptimes.com.

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