College basketball

Noah's determination swings the pendulum back his way

The 6-11 power forward met the freshman storm head on and as a result has evolved into one of UF's top contributors.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published January 7, 2006

GAINESVILLE - Joakim Noah heard it over and over last season: "It's a marathon, not a sprint. Your time will come."

His head understood what his coaches and teammates were saying, but his heart couldn't comprehend.

How do you make the transition from superstar of a state championship basketball team, son of a former famous tennis star, big man on your prep school campus to just another guy on the bench at a university with 50,000 students?

You struggle, you make mistakes, you learn from them.

And then you put your heart and soul into getting better so when your time comes, you're ready.

That's how you go from little-used reserve to a starter for the nation's No. 5 team. That's how you transition from 3.5 points per game to 12.2 points and 5.8 rebounds. That's how you become one of the most valuable players the Gators have on the floor.

"He just kept working," fellow sophomore Corey Brewer said. "Some nights we'd get back from a game and he wouldn't get to play and he'd go to the gym or go run on the track. He did a lot of things people don't realize he did, that's why I feel like he got a whole lot better this year. He's improved so much, words can't explain how much he's improved. It's because Jo worked. ... It was about one thing - he wanted to play. He was determined."

Noah, 20, who pronounces his first name JO-Kim, joined the Gators surrounded by hype. He is the son of a former Miss Sweden and 1983 French Open champion and now European recording star Yannick Noah. He has lived in New York City and France, traveled the world and seen things many only dream about. He was a star at Lawrenceville Prep in New Jersey who averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds per game. He chose Florida because he fell in love with coach Billy Donovan and the Gators' up-tempo style of play, but once he arrived he had to sit behind all-conference and future NBA player David Lee.

"The transition from high school to college was definitely tough, not just physically but mentally," Noah said. "I think you underestimate that. When you come to Florida, in every sport, you're the man in high school. And it's a transition because only certain guys are going to be able to start or play significant minutes. So it's hard sometimes for freshmen to not get the playing time that you want or to get the things you've been used to getting your whole life."

Actually Noah's transformation began the moment Florida lost to Villanova in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.

"I think last year was very frustrating for him," Donovan said. "But when the season ended after we lost, Jo felt like, "I have to help our team. I'm filling huge shoes at the power forward spot.' His mentality changed in terms of he'd always played hard, but I think he put a level of accountability on himself. ... He has just made huge, huge growth as a player. A lot of that has to attributed to his mind-set."

His mind-set was that he would work as hard as he could to prepare for the season. Noah, weakened by mononucleosis his first season, lifted weights, ran three or four times a week and shot 500 jumpers daily (although he jokes the latter hasn't paid off). In the fall he was among the first to arrive for 6 a.m. workouts. He only added 6 pounds to his 6-foot-11 frame, but he got stronger.

Add the unselfish play of the Gators this season and you'll see why Noah's game is so much better.

"When you're playing with guys like Corey, Al Horford, Taurean Green and Lee Humphrey, they open up the floor so much for you and we're so unselfish you feel like when you're open you're going to get the ball," Noah said. "It's not like people are doing unbelievable plays on the court, we're just playing simple and everybody knows what people can do on the team."

So when you see Noah running down the court, pumping his fists, screaming, mouth wide open after a big play, his bushy ponytail flying, know this: It's no act. He's having the time of his life and he appreciates every second he gets to play for the Gators.

"What you see out there, that's just him," senior forward Adrian Moss said. "He's an oddball. But he did a great job keeping his confidence and his composure and now he's playing great basketball right now."

[Last modified January 7, 2006, 01:22:58]