Center John Egbunu, shown here defending Texas A&M center Tyler Davis, was playing his best basketball when he suffered a season-ending knee injury Feb. 14 at Auburn.
Egbunu Could Opt to Turn Pro
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
Coach expects center John Egbunu to test NBA waters.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — John Egbunu couldn't finish the Florida basketball season due to circumstances beyond his control, but he is on schedule to graduate next month and Gators coach Mike White anticipates his fourth-year junior center will explore professional basketball options.
The 6-foot-11, 255-pound Egbunu tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Feb. 14 at Auburn and underwent season-ending knee surgery. Though Egbunu has one season of eligibility remaining, per NCAA rules, White cast doubt Tuesday as to whether the team's leading rebounder would return for the 2017-18 season.
"John hasn't made a decision yet, but I think he'll probably test the waters and see what type of feedback he gets," White said during a news conference to put a wrap on a 2016-17 season that finished with a 27-9 record and a loss to South Carolina in the NCAA East Region final, one victory shy of the Final Four. "I don't want to speak for John — I'll let him have his turn doing that — but I think, ultimately, that's probably what he ends up doing, and we'll support him as best we can support him. We want what's best for John."
Egbunu averaged 7.8 points per game on a career-low 49.2 percent from the floor and a team-best 6.6 rebounds per game. He was playing his best basketball of the season — coming off a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds against Texas A&M and its enormous frontcourt — when he blew out his knee early in the Auburn game. Sophomore Kevarrius Hayes stepped into the starting center role and averaged 6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and led the team with 60 blocked shots.
Whether Egbunu is back, of course, isn't the only such question for the Gators. For the second straight year, junior forward Devin Robinson has put his name in the NBA Draft evaluation pool. The 6-8, 205-pounder opted to return last season after a physical revealed a stress fracture in his foot that eventually required surgery. Robinson came back to start 35 games and average 11.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and shoot 39 percent from the 3-point line. The prevailing thought in the basketball complex is that Robinson will forgo his senior season and chase his NBA dream.
"With this being his second go-around pursuing this thing, I think it may be difficult for him to not follow through this year," White said. "But we'll find out soon enough."
The deadline to submit names to the NBA pool is April 23. The deadline to withdraw is May 24, which is 10 days after the pre-draft combine. Players who hire an agent cannot return to school.
In other news, White confirmed that he has had conversations with UF athletic director Scott Stricklin about an extension to the six-year, $12 million contract originally signed in May 2015 and negotiated under then-AD Jeremy Foley.
"I'll let Scott fill you in. We've had a lot of really positive conversations," White said. "I'm blessed to have his faith as a guy who inherited me. I'm blessed because he didn't hire me, but we're very much aligned in terms of our visions for this program. I think he's wonderful for this athletic department and is going to do big things. I'm proud to work for him and with some of these other really talented coaches."
The 6-foot-11, 255-pound Egbunu tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Feb. 14 at Auburn and underwent season-ending knee surgery. Though Egbunu has one season of eligibility remaining, per NCAA rules, White cast doubt Tuesday as to whether the team's leading rebounder would return for the 2017-18 season.
"John hasn't made a decision yet, but I think he'll probably test the waters and see what type of feedback he gets," White said during a news conference to put a wrap on a 2016-17 season that finished with a 27-9 record and a loss to South Carolina in the NCAA East Region final, one victory shy of the Final Four. "I don't want to speak for John — I'll let him have his turn doing that — but I think, ultimately, that's probably what he ends up doing, and we'll support him as best we can support him. We want what's best for John."
Egbunu averaged 7.8 points per game on a career-low 49.2 percent from the floor and a team-best 6.6 rebounds per game. He was playing his best basketball of the season — coming off a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds against Texas A&M and its enormous frontcourt — when he blew out his knee early in the Auburn game. Sophomore Kevarrius Hayes stepped into the starting center role and averaged 6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and led the team with 60 blocked shots.
Whether Egbunu is back, of course, isn't the only such question for the Gators. For the second straight year, junior forward Devin Robinson has put his name in the NBA Draft evaluation pool. The 6-8, 205-pounder opted to return last season after a physical revealed a stress fracture in his foot that eventually required surgery. Robinson came back to start 35 games and average 11.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and shoot 39 percent from the 3-point line. The prevailing thought in the basketball complex is that Robinson will forgo his senior season and chase his NBA dream.
"With this being his second go-around pursuing this thing, I think it may be difficult for him to not follow through this year," White said. "But we'll find out soon enough."
The deadline to submit names to the NBA pool is April 23. The deadline to withdraw is May 24, which is 10 days after the pre-draft combine. Players who hire an agent cannot return to school.
In other news, White confirmed that he has had conversations with UF athletic director Scott Stricklin about an extension to the six-year, $12 million contract originally signed in May 2015 and negotiated under then-AD Jeremy Foley.
"I'll let Scott fill you in. We've had a lot of really positive conversations," White said. "I'm blessed to have his faith as a guy who inherited me. I'm blessed because he didn't hire me, but we're very much aligned in terms of our visions for this program. I think he's wonderful for this athletic department and is going to do big things. I'm proud to work for him and with some of these other really talented coaches."
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