From the day Patric Young stepped on Florida’s campus as a freshman in 2010, the 6-foot-9 center immediately drew comparisons to some of the NBA’s biggest stars, such as Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudemire.
But as Young’s collegiate career nears an end, Chris Walker, the Gators’ newest addition to the frontcourt, has just begun to hear whom he might resemble on the court.
Coach Billy Donovan said fans might want to temper their expectations when Walker, who is waiting on NCAA approval to become fully eligible, eventually makes his Florida debut.
“My biggest fear for Chris is you have a highly explosive player, and sometimes when the guy’s not playing, the legend of Chris Walker grows greater than who he really actually is,” Donovan said Monday.
“Chris Walker now, it’s like, ‘My God, this guy is going to end up being Kevin Garnett.’ I mean, he’s not that. Whenever he gets able to play, if that’s your expectation of Chris Walker, then you’re going to be very, very disappointed because he’s not that.”
Walker has been enrolled at Florida since Dec. 14, 2013, but the 6-foot-10 freshman has missed the Gators’ 10 contests since because the NCAA is still deliberating on his academic eligibility.
Although the NCAA has prevented him from entering a game, Walker still practices with the team and sits on the bench along with the other ineligible and injured players at Florida’s home games.
Donovan said Walker has made significant strides off the court, like bulking up from 203 pounds to between 210 and 213 pounds and learning the Gators’ offensive and defensive gameplan.
With the work Walker has put in during practice and film sessions, Donovan said he would play the freshman as soon as he becomes eligible.
Still, Donovan wanted to remind fans that even with extra time preparing, Walker is still a young player with a lot to learn.
“He’s got a lot of physical growing, mental growing,” Donovan said.
“He’s got to understand the college game a lot more. There’s so much that’s in front of him to try and get better at. I just hope that people will not look at it and say, ‘Wow, I was expecting something different.’ And hopefully, for him, I don’t want to see him have to go through that.”
Frazier earns weekly honor: Sophomore Michael Frazier II won his first career Southeastern Conference Player of the Week award for his performances against Alabama and Tennessee.
The Gators sharpshooter averaged 17.5 points during the two-game stretch, and he led the team in scoring in each game. Frazier shot 8 of 19 from behind the arc against the Crimson Tide and the Volunteers to help improve the Gators’ winning streak to 11.
“It’s a great honor,” Frazier said. “But it just shows that hard work pays off. Continue to strive to get better each and every day. Continue to focus on the team.”
Florida top-five team: For the first time in nearly a year, Florida earned a spot in the top five in the Associated Press’ weekly poll.
The Gators rose from the No. 6 spot to No. 3 in the nation after both Michigan State and Villanova earned their second losses of the season. UF also jumped undefeated No. 4 Wichita State.
The Gators were last ranked in the top five on Feb. 5, 2013, when No. 2 Florida fell to Arkansas 80-69 in Fayetteville, Ark.
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Chris Walker stands on the sideline as the Gators warm up during Florida’s win against Tennessee on Saturday in the O’Connell Center.
