For the first time this season, both Kasey Hill (high ankle sprain) and Scottie Wilbekin (sprained ankle) will be available for No. 19 Florida (6-2) when it squares off against No. 13 Kansas (6-2) on Tuesday night at 7 in the O’Connell Center.
Hill has missed the past four games since suffering his injury against Southern on Nov. 18, and the freshman point guard participated in full-contact drills Sunday.
“It’s really hard for me to say how much he will play or will not play,” coach Billy Donovan said of Hill.
“There has been some tentativeness there. He’s not in great pain. I think he’s probably still recovering. … What his role would be in tomorrow’s game would be too hard to say but right now I would say right now that he would be available to be put into the game.
“There are really no limitations on Kasey’s playing time from the doctors in terms of he can only play 10-12-15 minutes. But because he’s been out and been out of practice so long – it’s been nearly about three weeks right now – I just don’t know what I’m going to get from him. We’ll give him an opportunity.”
Wilbekin, a senior point guard, rolled his ankle during UF’s 65-64 loss to UConn on Dec. 2 and rejoined the team in practice five days later.
“Scottie’s fine,” Donovan said. “He’s been back to practice. We probably were a little precautionary with him coming out of the UConn game. He probably could have practiced the next day, but the trainer wanted to give him two days. Very limited swelling, very limited soreness ... not a problem.”
Both players have not seen time together on the court this season. Two games after Hill suffered his injury, Wilbekin returned to the team after serving a five-game suspension for violating team rules.
Finally having the closest thing to a healthy roster – and even the possibility of Hill and Wilbekin sharing the backcourt – excites the Gators.
“We’ll see if they’re on the court at the same time,” center Patric Young said. “Probably going to be different times. I’m not sure what Coach Donovan’s plan is. But it’ll be exciting to watch. Both of them are great players.”
Harris’ status the same: A report from GatorCountry.com on Sunday said that center Damontre Harris, who has not practiced with Florida in more than a month, would be leaving UF.
But Donovan, who has not seen the South Carolina transfer in about two weeks, suggested there have not been any new developments in the situation.
“Obviously, he’s off the team as it related to practicing and participating in games and those kind of things, but Damontre and I have not met,” Donovan said. “I saw Damontre on Thanksgiving and … have spoken to him through text messaging, but nothing has changed in terms of what he needs to do. Right now, his main focus is continuing to finish up school.
“That’s where he’s at. But he and I have not spoken.”
Follow Landon Watnick on Twitter @LandonWatnick.
Kasey Hill dribbles the ball during Florida’s 77-69 victory against North Florida on Nov. 8 in the O’Connell Center.
