With high expectations and even higher anticipation, Florida Gators basketball coach Mike White stood behind the podium last week at his second media days. White talked a lot about the process of winning and what it takes to be a winning team. With a team full of new faces, White has the challenging task of replacing the reliable Dorian Finney-Smith in the lineup.
Finney-Smith became a contributor immediately following his transfer from Virginia Tech in 2013. He was a long player that could shoot the three and also go down and play as a stretch four, which he did a lot in his time at Florida. Whether it was hitting a huge three at Vanderbilt during the Gators Final Four run in 2013, or slamming in a hammer dunk at Alabama with less that 10 seconds left to win the game, Finney-Smith was a player that the team looked to when adversity reared its head and now, in what is considered a very big season, Mike White must find someone to fill those shoes.
With the 2016-2017 season a little over a month away, Mike White has yet to find one clear leader on the roster.
“Yeah, when we talk about leadership as a staff we don’t have one guy that just really sticks out. A guy who just controls the locker room or whose voice is heard over everyone else’s, and you could perceive that as a negative.”
Potential Replacements
While the list may be short to replace Finney-Smith as a leader and scorer, Mike White has some young transfer talent that he will attempt to tap into in the upcoming year.
The first potential replacement is Guard KeVaughn Allen, a true sophomore who made an early impact in the Gator lineup. Allen played in 36 games his freshman year and showed flashes of being a possible star. An example of Allen’s potential stardom came in a loss at the hands of in-state rival, Florida State. Allen poured in 32 points and was unstoppable for the Seminoles. Allen then scored 18 points in his next two games against Georgia and Tennessee before falling off a smidge and leaving the jury without a verdict on whether or not he can be the Gator savior. Allen’s lack of leadership skills and quiet personality are his biggest drawbacks, but Mike White and staff are hoping that the young gun finds his voice quickly and leads the team back to national prominence.
Another player on the team that could replace Finney-Smith is transfer Canyon Barry. Barry is the son of hall of famer Rick Barry. No doubt basketball runs through the veins of this 6-6 guard. Barry can be described as a long player who can stretch the floor, get to the rim and has the capability to shoot the three. Barry’s abilities will compliment Mike White’s philosophy, something the coach says is important.
“I think it helps us us play to our strengths.” White went on, “I think it’s advantageous to us to play pretty fast yet there is that fine line between playing fast and taking crazy shots.”
And taking crazy shots was a trait that the current Gator basketball roster hopes to leave behind them.
A final player that coach White might count on to replace Dorian Finney-Smith is redshirt freshman Keith Stone. Stone walked on to campus somewhat of a big name guy that Gator fans were quickly excited about. But with a tough first offseason, Stone found himself on the bench redshirting and getting ready for his next chance. That chance is now. White has spent a lot of time gushing over the redshirt freshman when he would find himself behind a microphone this offseason. Back in April, White talked about Stone’s potential.
“Most productive redshirt year I have ever been apart of in 16 years. He was the focal point of all the scouting team purposes. He’s got to go get bucks. He’s going to be a good player.”
The complimentary head coach may have just found his replacement for what was a big piece of the foundation that Billy Donovan left Florida with in Keith Stone.
The Gators coaching staff have to like what they’ve seen with Allen and while the jury is still out on Barry and Stone, they have upside that Mike White will try to exploit in lifting the Gators out of their two-year NCAA Tournament drought this season.