Gator Country was live at Florida basketball’s preseason practice on October 8th inside the Hugh Hathcock Basketball Complex. Here’s our inside notes from Tuesday’s practice.
This was Florida’s most competitive and physical preseason practice that I’ve seen to date, so competitive that a questionable blocking foul called by Todd Golden had assistant coaches arguing in the final minute of the scrimmage at the end of practice. The Gators’ ‘second team’ nearly upset the first team, falling 32-27 in the final minute. The trio of Urban Klavzar, Sam Alexis, and Isaiah Brown kept the practice competitive behind their best performances of preseason camp.
Keep in mind that these same teams, with the exception of Thomas Haugh to the ‘second team’, went at it last Tuesday and the first team won 54-22 in 16 minutes of play.
Freshman guard Isaiah Brown got things going for team white with his defense by picking off a Walter Clayton pass at midcourt. Clayton was in transition looking for Thomas Haugh at the top of the key, but Brown anticipated the pass and jumped in front of it. UF’s staff gave props to Brown for ‘baiting’ Clayton’s pass. It’s hard to tell that Brown is a freshman on the court. Outside of a teaching moment from Todd Golden in a defensive drill, Brown was comfortable on the court all practice long. Brown is a high IQ defender that has the athleticism and physicality to hang with larger players, as seen multiple times throughout practice. Brown also understands spacing on the offensive side, finding himself multiple wide open looks from the perimeter. Brown also has the ability to cut and get to the basket, as seen late in the scrimmage, scoring on a pass through a tight window from Urban Klavzar.
Offensive rebounding was a major highlight of Tuesday’s practice. Rueben Chinyelu and Sam Alexis (among others) were battling on the glass for extra possessions, both of them coming away with their fair share. Alexis recorded three put back drunks on missed shots from team white. He was also able to draw multiple fouls and get to the free throw line. Another area Alexis impressed was his ability to facilitate. He had two beautiful bounce passes to Urban Klavzar. One on a backdoor cut to the rim and another to the perimeter, where Klavzar would sink a three pointer. Sam Alexis may have been the best player on the court today.
WATCH: Sam Alexis delivers bounce pass to Urban Klavzar
It wouldn’t be a Florida basketball practice without Rueben Chinyelu recording multiple blocked shots. I anticipate this Gators’ team to take a huge step defensively and Chinyelu is a large reason why. Despite being 6’10, 255 pounds, Chinyelu covers a ton of ground defensively, which is good for switching on and off ball handlers. Chinyelu has a long way to go on the offensive side, but I thought this was his best practice yet. He had several rebound put backs for scores and had some good looks in the post, he just has to finish at a higher rate.
WATCH: Rueben Chinyelu scores on freshman Isaiah Brown
Watching Walter Clayton and Urban Klavzar go at it was electric. Clayton had his way for the third straight practice, driving right by Klavzar for easy points in the paint while shooting efficiently from three point range. Klavzar would respond, however. Klavzar is a threat offensively on and off the ball. Easily the best practice from Klavzar to date, who impacted his team by scoring and facilitating.
WATCH: Walter Clayton’s catch and shoot three pointer
Will Richard brought the energy on defense, recording three straight deflected passes out of bounds including one turnover in a perimeter defense drill. NBA teams wanted to see better defense out of Richard in his last year, and if today was any indication, you’re going to see that.
Micah Handlogten appears to be getting better every week. He was more mobile in practice today, helping run one of the drills and actually scoring on a few drills with no defenders.
WATCH: Micah Handlogten