On the court, Chandler Parsons is all business.
But away from the hardwood, his behavior has left a different impression on his teammates.
"As far as jokesters on the team go, I'd have to say Chandler," freshman guard Jai Lucas said. "He tries to make a joke about everything. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's not, but he's always trying to get a laugh."
Parsons confirms Lucas' assessment, taking pride in the role bestowed on him early by his teammates.
"I like to keep people loose," Parsons said. "I don't like people to be all uptight and nervous. We joke around. We have a good time."
Parsons is fully aware of his limits. The 6-foot-9 forward, who shares a room with Lucas, said an over-the-top stunt might result in a long walk home.
"I have to be careful with Jai because he's the one with the transportation," Parsons said. "I have to ride on the back of the scooter with him, so I make sure I stay on his good side."
Parsons' antics come as no surprise to one of his teammates - guard Nick Calathes. The two freshmen share a long history.
Calathes and Parsons joined forces at Orlando Lake Howell High, where the two won the 5A state championship in their senior seasons.
When asked about their relationship, Parsons was quick to fill in the blanks.
"No, I hate Nick," he joked. "But honestly, our chemistry off the court really helps us on the court. That's just Nick and me. We've been friends since seventh grade."
Parsons' favorite memory of their friendship is from a state tournament a few years ago. The two were joking around in a hotel before things got ugly.
"Do you see that scar on his leg?" Parsons said. "He was just chasing me in the hotel one day, and I threw a chair behind me and nailed him right in the shin."
Calathes called the incident an obvious "cheap shot." His favorite memory is a slightly different tale.
"Playing one-on-one, I made his nose bloody, so he quit," Calathes said. "He was soft."
Both said Parsons knows when to put the joking aside and focus on basketball. This will prove vital for the Gators, as Parsons is likely to play a major role right away.
After center Marreese Speights, he is the tallest player on the team, but at only 200 pounds, Parsons will need to bulk up before he battles it out on the inside.
"A guy like Chandler Parsons gets everything we're doing mentally," UF coach Billy Donovan said. "He has a great feel and a great understanding but doesn't have that physical-ness yet of going in there and banging that we're going to need of him."
Parsons, a talented swingman, can give the Gators range from the forward position, where he is capable of stepping back and hitting an outside shot.
The problem for the young player is on the defensive end, an issue he is fully aware of.
"Defense has never really been my strong point," he said.
Parsons has been working closely with Associate Head Coach Larry Shyatt to improve on both sides of the ball as the season draws near.
"Shyatt is the defensive daddy," Parsons said. "He's all about defense. He's a great coach. He knows what he's talking about. … It's really exciting to think that if I work at it, I can become a great defensive player."
