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Florida Gators (Last Year: 21-13, 9-7 in SEC)
2010-11 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Vernon Macklin (Sr)/Patric Young (Fr)
F: Alex Tyus (Sr)/Erik Murphy (So)/Cody Larson (Fr)
F: Chandler Parsons (Sr)/Will Yeguette (Fr)/Adam Allen (Jr)
SG: Kenny Boynton (So)/Casey Prather (Fr)
PG: Erving Walker (Jr)/Scottie Wilbekin (Fr)
Gone: PF-Dan Werner, SG-Ray Shipman (transfer-playing football at Central Florida), C-Kenny Kadji (transfer-Miami, FL) PG-Nimrod Tishman (overseas)
2010-11 Outlook:
Florida only returns six scholarship players from a year ago, but that group accounted for nearly 90 percent of the Gators’ scoring and includes the entire starting five. When you add in a talented freshman class, it is easy to see why Billy Dononvan’s boys are worthy of a top 10 ranking.
The strength of this year’s team will be their deep and versatile frontcourt led by senior starters Vernon Macklin, Alex Tyus and Chandler Parsons. Tyus flirted with the NBA Draft in the offseason and even contemplated transferring from the university, but chose to come back for his senior season. Parsons has a unique skill set for a 6-10 player in that he can stroke it from the outside, but is also a more than capable ball-handler and passer. Macklin brings strength and athleticism to the center position.
Donovan also landed a talented cast of freshman forwards led by Patric Young. At 6-9, 235 pounds, he is already built like a man and put his post presence on display this summer when he helped the U.S. U-18 team win gold at the World Championships. Fellow freshmen Cody Larson and Will Yeguete will compete with 6-10 sophomore Erik Murphy (What up E????) for minutes off the bench.
Florida returns their undersized backcourt of 5-8 Erving Walker and 6-2 Kenny Boynton. Walker and Boynton were the Gators’ leading scorers last year despite not shooting the ball especially well. They are both capable of running the point or playing off the ball, but need to be better decision-makers. Newcomers Scott Wilbekin and wing Casey Prather hope to add needed depth that Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario will provide in 2011-12 after he sits out this season per NCAA rules.
The SEC East will incredibly competitive with Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Vanderbilt all being NCAA Tournament-worthy teams. If Donovan can blend the returning players with the new talent, the Gators should be a well-rounded and deeper team than they were a year ago, and a real factor on the national scene.
Player to Watch: Kenny Boynton, G
Boynton arrived in Gainesville with high expectations after being a McDonald’s All-American. At times, he displayed his explosiveness as a scorer but also was an incredibly streaky shooter. Boynton is better suited playing the two but will also run the point at times due a lack of experience in the backcourt. If he can play under better control this season and show more consistency with his outside shot, he will help make the Gators a better team.
Key Non-Conference Games:
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2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
