Forward Will Yeguete could end up on the operating table again this summer.
After undergoing arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips in his right knee in February, Yeguete will strongly consider a second knee surgery during the offseason. Coach Billy Donovan called Yeguete’s first surgery a “short-term fix.”
“I don’t think anybody felt like the surgery was going to be this long-term solution,” Donovan said. “So there are probably going to be some decisions to make going forward, but I think definitely for him surgery would be on the table.”
Yeguete experienced swelling after Florida’s 78-64 victory against Minnesota on March 24 and had his right knee drained before UF beat FGCU 62-50 in the Sweet 16. Donovan revealed Wednesday that Yeguete missed an entire week of practice leading up to the Gators’ matchup against the Eagles on March 29.
Yeguete missed six games in February and returned to the lineup March 2. He averaged 4.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per game during UF’s final 10 contests.
Donovan said Yeguete would meet with team trainers and undergo an X-ray and MRI before opting for surgery.
“He was able to play with his knee the way it was, so he’s going to have to make a decision of what he wants to do,” Donovan said.
“Can there be further repair, further help in terms of him getting completely healed?”
Donovan’s expectations for Young: Patric Young will return for the 2013-14 season, and Donovan wants the 6-foot-9, 249-pound center to take his game to the next level.
Young, a projected second-round pick in the NBA Draft, announced Monday that he will stay at Florida for his senior season.
“If you look at him when he was a sophomore, he averaged 10 (points) and six (rebounds). This year, he averaged 10 and six,” Donovan said.
“I really felt that Patric has the potential and ability to rebound more. I still think people wanted to look at his offense, that he has gotten better offensively. But I feel him playing with a consistent motor would not only help him, it would help our team. I think he has the capability of doing those things.”
Young averaged 1.6 blocks and 0.9 steals in 2012-13, but his rebounding was inconsistent. He did not record back-to-back games with at least 10 rebounds and grabbed 19 boards during a two-game stretch only once.
Donovan believes Florida’s lack of frontcourt depth in practice this season stunted Young’s development.
Damontre Harris, a transfer out of South Carolina, suffered a labrum tear in October, causing him to miss the majority of Florida’s practices this year. The 6-foot-9 Harris also sprained his ankle during the season, keeping him out for a couple weeks.
Cody Larson, a 6-foot-9 forward, left the team for personal reasons two weeks before the season started.
“With Cody leaving and Damontre getting hurt, there really wasn’t enough size in practice and strength in practice,” Donovan said.
“This year, that should help [Young] a little more in practice in terms of just playing against more size, more athleticism and more shot blocking.”
Will Yeguete (15) cheers for his teammates during Florida’s 79-59 loss to Michigan on March 31 in Arlington, Texas.
