Could Parsons be first Gator to win SEC Player of Year award?
Friday, March 4, 2011 | Men's Basketball, Women's Golf, Scott Carter
The chatter about who should be SEC Player of the Year is in full bloom with the final weekend of the regular season here.
Some say Vanderbilt's John Jenkins, the league's top scorer, will win it. Others say one of Kentucky's hotshot freshmen – guard Brandon Knight or forward Terrence Jones – could claim the award.
Georgia's Trey Thompkins, Ole Miss's Chris Warren and Tennessee's Scotty Hopson are other well-respected players expected to receive votes.
Could senior forward Chandler Parsons become the first Gator to win the award in Florida's 78th season in the SEC? He's only fourth on his own team in scoring, but that is of little significance to at least one national college basketball columnist.
Parsons is averaging 11.4 points, a team-high 7.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. None of those stats blow you away at first glance. However, if you've watched the Gators play and know a little something about basketball, it doesn't take long to see how much of an impact Parsons has.
“He is really multi-dimensional. He does a lot for our team,'' Gators coach Billy Donovan said Thursday. “He rebounds. He passes it. He has shot the ball better. He takes it to the basket. You can put the ball in his hands to make plays.
“I would say that there is no question as far as versatility is concerned, he is definitely the most versatile small forward in the league with all the things he can do.''
What does Donovan think? Should Parsons be considered one of the favorites for the award?
“I certainly think he should definitely be considered,'' Donovan said. “He's had a terrific year. I'm biased because I've had a chance to coach him now for four years and I've seen where he started and where he's come to. I've always felt like when you are looking at a player-of-the-year candidate, it should be from a team that's in a position to win a championship.
“In my opinion, he should be strongly considered for that.''
Meanwhile, Parsons tried to dribble his way out of answering a couple of questions about the award from reporters on Thursday, clearly uncomfortable tooting his own horn.
“Honestly, the individual awards are great and all, but I don't think I have a vote,'' he said. “I don't know. I think I've put myself in a good situation where I can be talked about.
“It really doesn't matter to me. I'm just worried about my team right now. It's really flattering and stuff that people are talking about me winning it, but I'm more worried about us winning Saturday.''
Parsons was surprised to hear no Florida player has ever won the award.
“There have been some great players to come through the University of Florida,'' he said. “It is hard to believe that one of those guys hasn't been player of the year.''
