Three months ago, no one knew when Casey Prather would begin his junior season. After suffering a pair of concussions in the preseason, Prather didn’t play until Nov. 23 — Florida’s fifth game.
One month ago, coach Billy Donovan thought Prather’s season might be finished. During UF’s win against LSU on Jan. 12, Prather came up gimpy after what appeared to be a routine offensive rebound and putback.
Donovan feared that Prather’s left ankle was broken until X-rays came back negative. Still, the high ankle sprain was another setback.
Eight days ago, Donovan said: “We’re not really getting anything out of Casey right now. “Although he returned to the lineup on Jan. 30, Prather hadn’t fully recovered from the ankle injury. Donovan said Prather “has not been himself” in practice. Whether it was an issue of strength or confidence, Prather wasn’t close to his normal form.
Now, in the wake of Will Yeguete’s regular-season ending knee surgery, Prather is a critical piece of a Final Four contender. Recognizing the void left by Yeguete, Prather accepted the challenge of getting back into form, adding more individual workouts to his normal routine. The results have been obvious.
In UF’s past two games, Prather played 22 minutes or more for just the second and third time this season. He averaged 12 points and four rebounds in the two games despite admitting that his ankle was still sore.
Beyond the stats, Prather gave UF the lanky defensive presence at the top of the press that is sorely missed with Yeguete on the sidelines.
Although he probably won’t stuff the box score on a nightly basis, Prather is the type of player elite teams need — an athletic, rebounding disruptor.
According to KenPom, the closest comparison to Prather based on his advanced statistical profile is Victor Oladipo, arguably the most valuable player on the nation’s No. 1 team — Indiana.
Obviously, Prather isn’t Oladipo. But, as UF’s leader in steal percentage, the 6-foot-6, 208-pound Prather at least has the athletic potential to be the type of game-altering defender the 6-foot-5, 214-pound Oladipo is.
Prather’s 64.1 shooting percentage may be unsustainably high, but the number still signifies how far his offensive game has come.
While Prather’s efficiency is boosted by his many highlight-reel dunks, he’s shown an ability to knock down a midrange jumper and has even hit 2 of 6 from beyond the arc.
At only 208 pounds, Prather can’t guard centers the way the 240-pound Yeguete can. But he’ll make a comparable effort at the other four spots and match Yeguete’s impact on the offensive glass.
Prather makes up for his defensive rebounding deficiency versus Yeguete by being a better and more involved offensive player. And he’s done it while being admittedly less than 100 percent physically. If Donovan’s comments from last week are any indication, Prather is still learning to mesh on both ends of the floor.
The Gators need defensive, rebounding grinders like Prather and Yeguete. With the very real possibility that Yeguete won’t be back, Prather is UF’s primary glue guy.
Luckily for Florida, he’s already proven he can step up, and he’s only going to get better.
Contact Greg Luca at gluca@alligator.org.
Junior forward Casey Prather (24) attempts a shot during Florida’s 69-52 win against Kentucky on Tuesday in the O’Connell Center.
