Previewing the Florida Gators shooting guard position
Phlandrous Fleming Jr. and Brandon McKissic have wrapped up their college eligibility.
That means that the Florida Gators will be looking to some new faces to fill the two spot for the 2022-23 season.
Before discussing the new faces, it must be pointed out that guards Myreon Jones, Kowacie Reeves and Niels Lane are returning.
Thanks to UF head coach Todd Golden and his staff, three-star combo guard Denzel Aberdeen solidified his signing with the Gators after Mike White left for Georgia.
On top of that, four-star shooting guard Riley Kugel also ended up signing with the Gators in May after being released of his letter of intent to Mississippi State.
Golden also hit the portal hard after being hired in March and reeled in Belmont transfer guard Will Richard.
Assessing the guards in the running
There’s no question that the Gators have a number of options at the shooting guard position for the upcoming season.
It will be interesting to see if Aberdeen or Kugel are able to make some noise throughout the summer and fall to earn a spot in the rotation as freshmen.
As of now, it seems all the attention is on Jones, Reeves, Lane and Richard.
Jones had an up and down season in his first season with the Gators. But when he was hot, he may have been the best player on the court with his three-point shooting ability.
It’s similar for Reeves, who started 10 games with 29 appearances in his freshman season in Gainesville.
Reeves showed promise as a scorer from all three levels on the offensive end while using his 6-foot-6 length to be effective on the defensive end.
Lane found his stride late last season and became a force on both ends for UF. As for Richard, he came to the SEC from a mid-major school for a reason, but it will be interesting to see how he fares against the nation’s best on a game-to-game basis.
What to expect at the two position
Jones has a great opportunity to take a major step in the upcoming season as his style of play fits near perfect in Golden’s philosophy.
However, if he struggles to be consistent, there are five other players to take his spot.
Florida fans should expect Jones, Lane, Reeves and Richard to play significant minutes. There will likely be a combination of two of these guards on the court at the same time as Lane, Reeves and Richard can also play the three position.
It’s worth noting that Lane shot 16.7% from three-point range last season.
Golden has options here. He could go with the veteran in Jones. He could go with the potential that Reeves and Richard bring to the table. Lane could continue on his roll from the end of last season and be a starter.
This position is probably the most intriguing one, and it’s hard to say right now who will take the starting spot. The Gators may shuffle around the lineup early on in the season to find out who fits the role best in Golden’s eyes.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
