Florida freshman Scottie Wilbekin is guarding players who arguably belong in the NBA, when in reality he should still be in high school.
Names like Brandon Knight, John Jenkins and Travis Leslie — elite scorers and athletes who are a team’s most difficult matchup — are assignments that have consistently fallen to Wilbekin.
This was never clearer than Saturday against Tennessee when UF needed an answer for Scotty Hopson.
The junior guard had scored 21 of the Volunteers’ first 45 points, and Gators coach Billy Donovan knew stopping him would be key.
To whom did Donovan turn?
Wilbekin.
“He told me, ‘You’re going to guard Hopson, so step up to the challenge,’” Wilbekin said.
The freshman answered the call, playing a major role in a defense that held Tennessee’s leading scorer to just a single point in the final 10:39 as Florida pulled out the 61-60 win.
Wilbekin checked in with 7:40 remaining and played until the Gators’ final possession. During that stretch, he was matched up on Hopson for nearly five minutes and gave up just a single point while forcing two turnovers.
“He was by far our best defender on Hopson,” Donovan said. ”He did a terrific job.”
While Wilbekin does not always defend at that level, Donovan rarely gives his performance anything but a positive review.
Donovan said Wilbekin’s strength and quick feet allow him to effectively defend just about anyone, and Wilbekin takes pride in his role as one of the team’s primary stoppers.
Although sophomore guard Kenny Boynton is considered UF’s best defender, Wilbekin’s ability to spell him in some cases, and complement him in others, has been invaluable.
“I take it upon myself as a challenge to guard the best player on the other team,” Wilbekin said.
The freshman has made his biggest impact on Florida’s defense, but he has recently developed into a scoring option on the offensive end.
Wilbekin proved himself capable of running the team and handling pressure in the early going, establishing a team-best 3.3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in nonconference play.
Although that ratio has fallen to 1.4-to-1 in conference games, his teammates are still pleased with his performance. Senior center Vernon Macklin particularly admires Wilbekin for being the consummate team player and admitting when he makes mistakes.
“He’s an honest point guard,” Macklin said. “He just tries to do everything to make everybody on the floor happy, and I love playing with him.”
Despite averaging 2.5 points per game, Wilbekin has shown flashes of his offensive talent. Over the past few weeks, Wilbekin has been actively driving to the basket and taking open shots more than he was earlier in the year.
The freshman has had multiple shot attempts in 11 of the team’s last 13 games after taking more than one shot just four times in his first 12 contests.
Against Kentucky on Feb. 5, he tied a team high with nine first-half points on 3-of-3 shooting.
PARSONS INJURY UPDATE: Donovan said he doesn’t envision senior forward Chandler Parsons returning to practice until “possibly Thursday or Friday, maybe.”
Donovan said Parsons is currently on crutches after suffering a deep left thigh bruise when he collided with senior forward Alex Tyus during a rebound attempt Saturday against the Volunteers. Donovan is hopeful the long week will give Parsons enough time to heal before Sunday’s contest against LSU.
“How well he responds over the next three or four days will determine whether or not he can play,” Donovan said.
