ARLINGTON, Texas — When asked after Florida’s Elite Eight loss to Michigan on Sunday whether he would return to UF for his senior season or bolt to the NBA, center Patric Young was noncommittal.
“I’m just going to talk to my family and do whatever makes me happiest,” Young said. “We’ll see from there. … If I decide to come back, I’m going to work my butt off and make sure we can have another spectacular season.”
Even if Young decided to forgo his senior year and declare for the NBA Draft, Florida would still boast a deep roster heading into 2013-14.
UF loses seniors Kenny Boynton, Erik Murphy and Mike Rosario — three starters who accounted for 50.5 percent of Florida’s offense in 2012-13 — but will add five-star recruits Chris Walker and Kasey Hill. Dorian Finney-Smith and Damontre Harris will also be eligible after sitting out a season per NCAA transfer rules.
Walker, a 6-foot-9 forward, adds length and athleticism to UF’s frontcourt. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Hill compensates for his lack of size with his quickness and ability to distribute the ball.
“Kasey Hill, I think, is clearly one of the best point guards in the country,” Donovan said on Nov. 14, the day both players signed with Florida. “He’s explosive. He’s really good in transition. In our style of play — pick-and-roll, pressing — he’s going to be terrific.
“[Walker is] long. He’s athletic. He’s quick. I think his offense needs to get better. I don’t think he’s there offensively, but he’s got a really good motor.”
Added Young: “They’re supposed to be highly touted guys, but they’ll have to earn their spots.”
As a 6-foot-8 slasher, Finney-Smith is an efficient rebounder on the wing. In one season at Virginia Tech, he averaged 6.3 points and seven rebounds. He joined the Hokies as a top-40 recruit and started 30 of 33 games.
Harris, a 6-foot-10 center, started all but one game during his sophomore season at South Carolina. He averaged 6.8 points and 5.5 boards per contest in 2011-12. Harris tallied 71 blocks — ranking second in the Southeastern Conference behind Kentucky’s Anthony Davis.
“[Finney-Smith] can have a huge impact because he’s such a mismatch on the floor with his size and his agility and his ability to shoot and finish on the post,” Young said.
“He can really help us out, as well as [Harris] with his shot blocking. [Harris is] getting a lot better offensively. They just both have really good attitudes, so they’ll definitely contribute to the team.”
Finney-Smith has three years of eligibility; Harris has two.
Casey Prather, Will Yeguete and Scottie Wilbekin will return for their senior seasons.
Prather and Yeguete, who combined for 22.1 percent of Florida’s rebounding this season, could see increased minutes and vie for starting jobs.
Florida’s underclassmen might also see increased roles — especially All-SEC Freshman Team member Michael Frazier II, who averaged 5.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench this season.
After playing mostly during the final minutes of routs this year, freshmen Braxton Ogbueze, DeVon Walker and Dillon Graham are expected to fight for roles in the rotation.
Boynton was somber after his final collegiate game Sunday but had a positive outlook for the 2013-14 Gators.
“I think they’ll be right back in the same position next year,” he said.
Junior center Patric Young (4) attempts a shot during Florida’s 79-59 loss to Michigan in the Elite Eight on Sunday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
