Although forward DeVon Walker has impressed Billy Donovan in practice, the Florida coach has not ruled out redshirting Walker this season because of UF’s frontcourt depth.
Donovan said he would monitor the sophomore’s progress during the next three weeks before deciding if he will have a role in the rotation for the Gators, who could be short-handed at the start of 2013-14 due to the potential absences of Will Yeguete (knee), Eli Carter (leg) and Scottie Wilbekin (suspension).
The forward would have input on the decision, Donovan said.
But if Walker were to not redshirt, Donovan does not want the 6-foot-6 Winter Haven native to assume a limited role like he did during his freshman season.
Walker totaled 20 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks in 25 contests last year.
“I want to feel comfortable as a coach that he’s a legitimate rotational guy,” Donovan said.
“What I don’t want to do is put him in a situation where maybe he plays because of some injuries and things like that earlier on, and when those other guys come back we don’t see him playing a lot.
“I could see him playing a lot of minutes. But I want it to be something that I see that happening throughout the course of the year and not just a stretch.”
Walker was close to leaving UF during the offseason. On May 6, Walker announced his intent to transfer from Florida.
But a week later, Walker retracted his decision and chose to remain with the Gators. He said his initial desire to transfer was “not primarily” about playing time.
“There were just some misunderstandings,” Walker said. “Just basically miscommunications. Just small stuff.”
During the offseason, Walker has worked on improving his shooting and adding more muscle to his upper body.
When the lanky Walker did see meaningful minutes for the injury-ridden Gators last season during Southeastern Conference play, he struggled guarding and rebounding against bulkier, more physical forwards.
“He’s put in a lot of work,” sophomore guard Dillon Graham said. “He’s gotten a lot stronger (and) a lot bigger.”
Although his standing in the rotation remains unknown, Walker is excited to begin his sophomore season.
“As far as my role, I’ll just be whatever they need me to be,” Walker said. “If I get called on, I’ll just have to make sure that I’m ready to step in to play.”
Hill getting accustomed: The Gators have wrapped up their first weekend of practice, and Donovan is already impressed with the play of freshman Kasey Hill.
A McDonald’s All-American, Hill will begin the season as Florida’s starting point guard while Wilbekin sits out due to an indefinite suspension.
“It’s really hard because when [a freshman is] with a group of veterans, those veterans are so much further along in terms of understanding the system,” Donovan said. “But I have not been in a situation where I’ve had to hold back, go a little bit slower. He’s kind of absorbing and picking up everything that we’re putting in so far.”
Donovan has placed Hill and Wilbekin on separate teams in practice.“For Kasey to go up against Scottie as a veteran guy is a good thing,” Donovan said. “Kasey has to be in a situation where he has to stand on his own two feet a little bit right now.”
But down the line, Donovan said he would consider playing a backcourt of Hill and Wilbekin.
“Scottie is a bigger, stronger guard,” Donovan said. “Scottie is in a position where he can slide off the ball, and play the point. But yeah, I would envision those two guys playing together.”
Donovan listed Graham and Dorian Finney-Smith, a natural forward, as options to back up Hill at point guard early in the season.
Follow Landon Watnick on Twitter @LandonWatnick.
DeVon Walker runs down the court during Florida’s 83-52 victory against Missouri on Jan. 19 in the O’Connell Center.
