Gator center sees himself in the NBA

Three college teammates — Al Hoford, Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah — are likely lottery picks in next Thursday's NBA Draft. Another, Taurean Green, probably will be taken before him.

Senior Chris Richard?

The backup center on the University of Florida's back-to-back national-title teams probably could have logged more minutes, posted better numbers and improved his draft stock had he played elsewhere.

Instead, he's a projected second-rounder who'll have to earn his way into the NBA.

That's fine by Richard, who worked out for the Jazz on Thursday along with fellow big men Jermareo Davidson of Alabama, Herbert Hill of Providence and Anthony Tolliver of Creighton.

"It was a possibility for me to go on another team, but who knows? I probably wouldn't be part of a national championship," Richard said. "So, I (was) willing to sacrifice."

If Richard sounds like he's selling himself as a team player, it's only because he is.

"If you need me to just go and rebound and don't ever score the ball," he said, "I'm capable of doing that. And I'm willing to do that, if that's what (a coach) needs."

At Florida, Richard only needed to fit in with a team that he maintains was — despite all its talent — quite ego-free.

"We were just a regular team, a group of guys who love each other," he said.

And a good one at that.

At times, in fact, Richard said he felt the Gators would make a decent NBA franchise.

"I might be out of bounds a little bit," he said, "but I thought our team could compete with one or two NBA teams in a pickup game."

Not just against cellar-dwellers, either.

"We would have played the Spurs," Richard said. "They might have beat us, but it (would be) fun."

OSTERTAG RETURNING? Believe it or not, the NBA might not have seen the last of retired Jazz center Greg Ostertag.

Appearing in a scrimmage game involving several current University of Kansas players at his alma mater, Ostertag told the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World he is contemplating a comeback.

"First I have to try to get my fat butt in shape," Ostertag cracked.