Gators Star Returning For Senior Season
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Florida Gators came within one victory of making it to the Final Four this year. Monday, the team found out it got a big piece back for next season that will make the squad a favorite to reach next year's big dance.
Forward Patric Young announced Monday that he will stay in school for one more year. The 6'9" junior from Jacksonville averaged 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in 2013. Young had been projected as a second-round pick.
"I have the chance to finish my degree and play another season for coach (Billy) Donovan with great teammates and friends at a place I love," Young said in a statement. "These first three years have gone by in a flash, and I can't believe it is my senior year already. I have gotten better as a player and better as a man at the University of Florida.
"I believe God has my future in his hands, so all I am worried about now is getting better this summer and making it the hardest I have trained in my life."
Young will likely be one of the key cogs in head coach Billy Donovan's squad next year. The Gators will lose its top three scorers but will return two guards and two more forwards and get an added boost from two transfers becoming eligible.
Add in two McDonald's All-Americans to the mix and the Gators are looking at making another deep run in March Madness.
Young said he wants to improve his shooting from the free throw line and preventing turnovers. He also wants to make it to the Final Four after finishing each of the last three seasons in the Elite Eight.
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