Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As the middle of five boys in a football family, Bradley Beal grew up in St. Louis playing quarterback, receiver and safety. And yes, obviously, there was some basketball mixed in. 

Both of Beal's older brothers earned scholarships to play in college (as did his two younger twin brothers), and his parents knew young Bradley was tracking in that direction on the field, but also on the hardwood. The year he entered high school, Beal's mother laid down the parameters. Whichever sport came calling first was the sport Brad would play. The only one. 

As a freshman, Beal got his first basketball offer — from Kansas. 

"Mom shut it down after that," Beal said. 

Sheesh, wonder why. At Chaminade College Prep, all Beal did was become Gatorade National Player of the Year and the No. 2 overall prospect in the nation (behind a dude named Anthony Davis), eventually opting to signed with Billy Donovan and become the highest-ranked recruit in Florida program history. Beal, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, made first-team All-Southeastern Conference as a freshman, led the Gators in scoring on the way to the Elite Eight, and on his 19th birthday became the third overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards.  Nine seasons, 13,303 points (by far, the most ever by an NBA Gator), three All-Star selections and two max-contract extensions later, Beal's love for football remains. It'll be on display Saturday before a sellout crowd of 90,000 when Beal takes his turn as the honorary "Mr. Two Bits" before No. 11 Florida (2-0) takes on No. 1 and reigning national champion Alabama (2-0 in the SEC opener for both teams amid what figures to be the most jacked-up "Swamp" atmosphere since before Beal was sniping 3-balls for the Gators a decade ago. 

"I know the whole 'Two Bits' thing is an iconic deal, so when they asked it was pretty much a no-brainer for me," said Beal, who will be returning to campus for the first time since February 2020 when he joined a plethora of former UF basketball superstars to honor their former coach and celebrate the christening of "Billy Donovan Court" at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. "I've never been in a situation like this — 90,000? — so I'm kind of getting out of my comfort here, but that's OK. The crowd, I'm sure, will be electrifying."    By the time Beal arrived at Florida in the summer of 2011, George Edmondson was three years into his "Two Bits" retirement and the UAA's marketing department was another two years from hatching the idea of inviting a UF celebrity back for each home game to do the honors. He knows the cheer, however, and will have the required ensemble — yellow shirt, orange and blue tie, khaki pants — for the occasion.  

As for his own spin on things (maybe a sweet-looking jumper at the end), that'll be up to the former Gators star who — as Billy D once predicted — has quietly become the best NBA player ever to wear a Florida uniform. Maybe he can talk his pregame moves over with wife Kamiah and their two young sons. 

"I'll have to work on it in the hotel room Friday night, but I'll be ready for Saturday," said Beal, who is due to report for Wizards training camp the following week. "At least I don't have to make a speech or something."

That's true, but expect the whirlwind itinerary to include a stop at the UF basketball complex. Coach Mike White's squad — one in transition with four impact transfer players — could benefit from the words (not a speech, but some real talk) from a player who was the consummate student-athlete during his time on campus, even though everyone knew his stint would be a brief one.

Beal, a biology major and one of only two "one-and-dones in Florida basketball history, made the most of that time, though. He befriended a bunch of football players in his freshman class (Jacoby Brissett, Marcus Roberson, Valdez Showers) and cheered them on on Saturdays. His lone football season on campus wasn't great — UF went 7-6 in Will Muschamp's first season and beat Ohio State in the Gator Bowl — but he still pulls for the Gators and appreciates the magnitude of the upcoming weekend.

For him and the team. 

"It's Alabama," Beal said. "It'll definitely be fun."