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Florida Gators Basketball Loses Some Bite
Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators lost two players this week. (AP Images)
This is never a good time of year for NCAA basketball fans. Now that March Madness is over, it's time for April Announcements - most of which are news that another player has left for the NBA.
In Florida, the Gators got a double whammy of April Announcements.
First, Billy Donovan learned that All-SEC power forward Marreese Speights entered the NBA draft on Tuesday. Speights did not hire an agent, leaving the possibility of a return to the school still very much alive. Speights averaged 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Gators last season, basically holding down the frontcourt after Joakim Noah and Al Horford left for the NBA.
Things got worse for Florida as the week progressed. Donovan later learned that sophomore forward Jonathan Mitchell had decided to transfer. Mitchell was a spot contributor off the bench, averaging 11 minutes, 3.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Mitchell did not immediately announce to where he'd be transferring, but Donovan handled the loss with great class.
"Jonathan is an outstanding individual and a terrific person," Donovan said in a statement. "I would like to help Jonathan and his family in any way possible to ensure the best for his future, both academically and athletically."