Throughout his basketball career, Patric Young has heard the Dwight Howard comparisons.
Sure, Young, Florida’s starting center for the past two seasons, looks similar to Howard, who is arguably the best center in the NBA. Both players have chiseled physiques and are gifted with freakish athleticism.
But Gators coach Billy Donovan believes those comparisons have been unfair for Young since he arrived at UF in 2010.
“With him, it’s always a difficult thing when those comparisons are being made to people that are NBA All-Stars and you haven’t even played a college game yet,” Donovan said.
“And that’s the expectation people are wanting him to live up to. I don’t mean this in a derogatory way toward Patric Young: He’s not Dwight Howard, and if anyone is waiting around for him to be Dwight Howard, they are going to be highly disappointed. Pat Young is Pat Young.
“For me, it’s never been about living up to expectations. It’s been more of him playing at a consistent energy level throughout.”
Florida fans keep wanting more and more out of Young, whether it be consecutive double-doubles or a better rebounding average.
Young averaged 10.1 points on 58.6 percent shooting and 6.3 rebounds in 26.5 minutes per game last season, but he did not post consecutive games with at least 10 boards.
When the Jacksonville native fails to post gaudy numbers, the criticism typically pours in.
“I’ve dealt with expectations since I’ve gotten here,” Young said during Florida’s media day on Oct. 9. “I think what I need to realize is that I am who I am.”
But since pushing his NBA Draft dreams to the side to remain at UF for his final season, Young has made strides in many facets of his game.
He enters the season physically refreshed after undergoing surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle in April. Young played with the injured ankle during the latter half of last year, and it nagged him as the bone spurs worsened. The injury also led to tendinitis in his knees and limited his jumping ability.
“I’m at 100 percent for sure,” Young said at media day. “There’s nothing hindering me from going out there and giving my best.”
Young is also lighter. The 6-foot-9 senior dropped about 10 pounds in the offseason after weighing 255 pounds last year.
“His shape is better,” senior forward Will Yeguete said. “His game is obviously improved. I think he’s really trying to focus on doing the right thing and being a good leader. And I think he’s done that since we started practicing. And he’s more vocal and he’s more consistent, and I can definitely see that in him.”
Mobility and maintaining a consistent motor were issues for Young last season, but the senior was active down low during No. 10 Florida’s 110-88 win against Florida Southern in an exhibition on Nov. 1.
During the victory, he recorded 19 points and eight rebounds in 27 minutes.
Young also looked better from the free-throw line, making 7 of 10 attempts. He shot 48.9 percent from the foul line last season — the lowest percentage among Gators who attempted at least 30 free throws.
“He played at a real good intensity level,” Donovan said. “That’s what he needs to do.
“He didn’t do anything spectacular. He didn’t make all these great offensive moves. He did what he can do. I think if he plays with a motor and he runs the floor and plays with that energy, he’s going to be an effective player.”
As Florida heads into its season opener against North Florida today at 3 p.m. in the O’Connell Center, the Gators need Young to anchor the team on both ends of the floor with the team shorthanded.
Point guard Scottie Wilbekin, forward Dorian Finney-Smith and backup center Damontre Harris are suspended indefinitely, while guard Michael Frazier II (mononucleosis) is questionable for Friday’s game.
Although the rotation currently looks thin, the Gators are preparing for the long haul. They hope to reach the Final Four this season for the first time since 2007 after falling in the Elite Eight for three straight seasons.
If they want to make their goal a reality, the Gators need Young to be a consistent and efficient performer on the block — by just being himself.
“I just really want to play free,” Young said. “That sense of freedom, expectations, free of pressure, free of people telling me this and that. Just going out there and being the best Patric Young I can be by doing what I do best.”
Follow Landon Watnick on Twitter @LandonWatnick.
Patric Young catches a pass during Florida’s 110-88 win against Florida Southern in an exhibition on Nov. 1 in the O’Connell Center.
