DeVon Walker Plays A Bit Role For The Gators

[RayGator]

Friday 3.15.2013 Lakeland Ledger
Rick Brown

Awaiting His Time

Winter Haven's DeVon Walker Plays A Bit Role For UF

>> For a select few, the transition from high school basketball hot shot to to Division 1 college star is seamless. For others the transition is a grind.

Florida Gator freshman DeVon Walker is going through the grinding phase.

The First Team All Polk County performer and East Polk County Player of the Year, who at 6-6 often dominated at all 5 positions for Winter Haven High School, has had to adjust to being in a limited role at UF. <<

"I thought I knew the game. But I've learned a whole lot more under Coach Donovan. He's taught me patience and about playing with pace. He said there's not only one speed playing with the basketball." - DeVon Walker

http://www.theledger.com/article/201...it-Role-for-UF

I think most will find this a good article on DeVon Walker and his learning transition from high school to college basketball. And no doubt he has a lot of respect for Billy Donovan.

[gatormoe1]

Great article, cant wait until he looks like this at UF..

[GatorPlanet]

He's got talent, but needs time and muscle. I'm glad he recognizes that he's got to get better before he can crack the rotation. At 6'-6", he could become a dangerous guard / small forward.

[HALLGATOR]

"I'm going to continue to keep working and doing whatever coach tells me to do," he said. "We're winning, so that makes it easier."

Sign of maturity. With this attitude we can look for good things from him in the coming seasons.

[BengermanV]

Love this guy. Coach Donovan has a way with turning guys like him into big time hoopers, don't think Walker will be any different.

[bullish]

Get stronger, work on free throws and 3 pt shooting. Next year with the team we will have, he could be a good role player. Next year if he works hard he will find more minutes because if not, the players coming in are very talented. His junior year there will be a dedicated role for this talented player. He looks like a young race horse who you know will be great in the future. Devon work hard, I for one am pulling for you. Let the scoring at first come from the press on defense or shadowing you man for steals. Lead the break and help finish at the rim. If you shoot from 3 pt land, square up and nail it. If you go to the line, be automatic. When it all comes together in the flow of the Gator team, the whole world is going to know, Man those Gators are loaded!

[themistocles]

Not unusual. Billy D looks for far more than mere talent and skills when recruiting a player, his #1 criterion is character. You can't always be correct, but he is pretty good at identifying that characteristic.

You may recall that Cali was told he needed more 3 and 4 year players, to which he replied: "Where do you find them?"

I don't think Character is his #1 criterion. He is an excellent coach, but far from the best.

[RayGator]

I think DeVon will have a good career with the Gators. The young guy appears to have a good attitude and listens to Coach Donovan teaching him the different aspects of the game. Those are good qualities for a player.

[kellgator]

20 pounds of muscle will go a long way in improving his game. If he hits the weights and the training table hard this off season I think we'll see a completely different player next year that is capable of giving us a solid 15 minutes a game. I would expect his junior season to be his coming out party. You can see glimpses of good guard skills in his game. His length and athleticism could be a real mismatch for opposing teams when his time comes.

[RayGator]

DeVon played 2 minutes and scored 3 points against Northwestern State.

[g8rboy]

i think murphy was more excited about walker's three than walker was

[Bryan85]

Walker's a 79.8% foul shooter. At games end, with the lead, I'd have used him in the last 4 minutes of the game instead of Patric.

[RayGator]

I don't think DeVon Walker had any playing time against Minnesota. If he did I have not been able to find any stats for him in that game.

[Jonas]

Originally Posted by Bryan85

Walker's a 79.8% foul shooter. At games end, with the lead, I'd have used him in the last 4 minutes of the game instead of Patric.

Lol, this is sarcasm right?

[oneatatime]

Billy D has said many times that the biggest improvement in his program will occur between the freshman and sophomore seasons.

Let's hope he is part of the rotation next year and not a transfer candidate

[jeffphillips21]

I've played with Devon about 6-7 times. He's exceptional. The only issue is size, strength and getting used to the college game. Everything else he has down. To give you an example, I played 1-on-1 against him at the end of a game at Gold's Gym in Winter Haven. He beat me 4-1. I had one layup, he had 4 straight jump shots over me. I'm 6'3 and he's a legit 6'5.5, so every time I gave him the slightest of space he shot over me and made it 4 straight times. Like clockwork over my outstretched arms. Automatic.

He has a PG's handle, one of the best dribblers I've seen on a 6'6 frame, can elevate enough, and has a smooth stroke. He's going to be very good when he has another year under his belt.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Originally Posted by Jonas

Lol, this is sarcasm right?

I sure hope so.