Patience pays off for UF's Richard

LAKELAND — Chris Richard doesn’t have to wonder any longer.

The Kathleen High School graduate and two-time NCAA basketball champion

with the Florida Gators was selected in the second round by the Minnesota

Timberwolves in Thursday’s NBA Draft.

Richard, the 2003 “Mr. Florida Basketball,’’ became just the eighth player

from a Polk County high school to be drafted by the NBA. In Minnesota,

Richard will join his Gator teammate Corey Brewer, who was selected by

Minnesota with the seventh pick of the draft.

“I can’t really explain how I feel,’’ Richard said Thursday. “I’m happy but

I know it took forever.

“I was a little worried in the beginning (that he wouldn’t be picked). But

I knew I went and played hard. I was hoping somebody took a chance.’’

For more on this story, see Saturday's Gainesville Sun.