Ballard’s emergence a pleasant surprise for Florida Gators

Deaundrae Ballard started his career at Florida hot as he scored double figures in three of the first four games of his career.

From there, his freshman year hit a slump. As the games got bigger, his minutes were fewer, and he became a non-factor for most of the remainder of the season.

Now, as a sophomore, he’s found some redemption.

Ballard’s name was hardly uttered at all in the preseason. With the freshman talent coming in and guys like Jalen Hudson and KeVaughn Allen returning, he was expected to fade into the background once again.

In reality, he’s done anything but that. Seven games into the 2018-19 season, Ballard is Florida’s leading scorer, averaging 10.9 points per game.

It’s a bit surprising that this team’s leading offensive player is only scoring 10.9 points per game and he is the only player averaging double figures for the Gators, but that is a discussion for a different time.

Back to Ballard, he’s been lights out, especially since his career game when he put up 19 points against Stanford in the Battle 4 Atlantis. He’s led Florida in scoring in two of the last three games and finished in double figures three games in a row.

Ballard hasn’t only shocked media and fans who doubted he would make much of an impact this year, he’s surprised his own head coach. Mike White wasn’t too high on him before the season, but he’s watched a transformation take place just in the last month or so.

“He was a little bit behind some of these other perimeter guys, whose minutes he has stolen since, early in practice,” White said. “But he’s developed a little bit more of an understanding of what we’re trying to do, he’s become a little bit more accountable defensively, a little bit more bought in. But he’s always had that infectious energy. He’s competitive and he really likes basketball, and sometimes that’ll get you on the floor. And he’s taken advantage of opportunities that he’s earned by making some shots and continuing to play with that same energy.”

When Ballard first arrived on campus last year, White raved about how hard of a worker he was. He spoke of him being a gym rat—the first one in taking shots every day and the last one to leave.

At some point, that drive may have gotten lost, and somewhat understandably considering his diminished playing time over his first season.

Then, once preseason practices began, Ballard realized he was behind and likely headed back in the same direction. He would either let that discourage him and accept his fate or get back to work and give the coaches no choice but to put him on the floor.

He went with the latter.

At that same time, he also bought back into playing for the good of Florida basketball and not just his own personal goals.

“Really, what happened was just the fact that I was like, ‘I’m just gonna give it all in and be a team player and just give all I have to the team,’” Ballard said. “And that’s when everything started going right.”

Ballard has been a pleasant surprise for the Gators, but with the veterans still struggling offensively, Florida needs him and some of the other young players to continue leading the way.

Bailiegh Carlton
A lifelong sports fan, Bailiegh Carlton knew from a young age that she wanted to work in sports in some capacity. Before transferring to the University of Florida to study journalism, she played softball at Gulf Coast State College. She then interned for Gator Country for three years as she worked toward her degree. After graduation, Bailiegh decided to explore other opportunities in the world of sports, but all roads led her right back here. In her time away, she and her husband welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. When she isn't working, she can almost always be found snuggled up with sweet baby Ridley, Cody and her four fur babies.