Walking into the Hugh Hathcock Basketball Complex around this time of year, you can feel the Golden era leaking in immaculate vibes as the Florida men’s basketball team continue
preparations for the impending 2022-2023 season.
Wednesday’s practice was just another example of that. With Gators head coach Todd Golden waiting along the sidelines of the John W. Frost II practice court, assistant head coaches vocalized instructions for the players as they work on light
shooting drills.
The practice itself was more relaxed with a month till UF’s first game of the season against Stony Brook on Nov.7. A majority of it was to polish everyone’s game.
Splitting the courts, the hardwood land behind the perimeter is a designated place for a fireworks show as players rotated in circles getting shots up past the three. From all these players, the duo of Kowacie Reeves and CJ Felder immediately caught eyes.
Reeves, a sophomore guard coming back onto the roster after an offseason of uncertainty with the program, was lights out in practice — making catch and shoot shots like another day in the
office. Collecting the control of the ball after the pass right to his left hip, Reeves’ jump shot appears to be getting faster and more efficient.
The Macon, Georgia, native averaged 5.5 points a game in his freshman year, but was included more into the Gators roster late in the season. Now under a new head coach, he could potentially be given more minutes in a bigger role for this season.
Felder appeared to be doing well in the mid-range. Improving his shot on the wings after making .547% of his total shots in the 2021-2022 season.
Going into his senior season, at six-foot-seven and 240 pounds, a few could argue the Florida forward is already in a physically professional health. However, he will have a lot to prove this
season as he will battle for minutes on a packed Florida team with four forwards.
One of those forwards is the new addition from Germany, freshman Aleks Szymczyk.
When not in the weight room, Szymczyk works on building on to his impressive ability to produce behind the three-point arc and his IQ hearing in on assistant coach Kevin Hovde as he
describes transition drills.
In an era that has seen an elite class of European talent in the game of basketball, I wouldn’t be surprised if Szymczyk becomes another example. His conditioning is no issue as he runs down
the court in stride, he towers over the defense with broad shoulders at a six-foot-ten frame, setting screens and aggressively attacking the basket. A pure paint beast.
For the new coaching staff under Golden, the team appears to have plenty of talent to push the season into March. However, only time could tell how the season can mold out.