The past couple of days have been exciting for the Florida basketball program. After reports from two prestigious newspapers in the state of Florida reporting that the Gators were about to receive commitments from Melbourne (Fla.) Air Academy guard Walter Hodge and Jacksonville (Fla.) Raines guard Derwin Kitchen, the Gators finally landed its first commitment Thursday for the Class of 2005, but it wasn’t from Hodge or Kitchen.

Jacksonville (Fla.) Arlington Country Day shooting guard David Huertas called UF head coach Bill Donovan around 11 a.m. Thursday morning to inform him that he would be a Gator.

“It came down to Louisville and Florida,” Huertas’ Miami Tropics AAU coach Art Alvarez said. “It was a situation where it came down to the respect we have for Billy. The fact that David was at his team camp recently and the fact that Billy got to see him play about 11 times. David’s team went 11-0 and he had 40 points in the final. The fact that Billy has been recruiting him since last year and the three guard offense that he plays, and the fact that Billy is a great coach when it comes to guards. We feel that Billy will take him to the next level. David’s aspirations are to play in the NBA.”

Alvarez said that Huertas chose UF over offers from Louisville, Arizona, Kansas, Florida State, Indiana, Virginia, Georgia Tech, St. Johns and Memphis.

Huertas is a four-star prospect according to Rivals.com. He is also the No. 44 ranked player in the country and No. 12 ranked shooting guard.

Coming later today for InsidetheGators.net subscribers only: More information on Huertas and his commitment to the Gators. If you aren’t a InsidetheGators.net subscriber, click here to try out our 7-DAY FREE TRIAL.