Graham eyes Division II offers, but will always be a Gator
Friday, November 21, 2014 | Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A week ago, Billy Donovan looked down the Florida bench for Dillon Graham and told the third-year sophomore to go into the team's opening game with just over three minutes left.
The next day, Graham looked at Donovan from across his office desk and told the Gators coach he was leaving.
A few minutes later, Graham left the UF basketball complex in tears.
“But they were peaceful tears,” Graham said when reached earlier this week. “Honestly, I just knew it was the right decision for me. I've been a Gator since I was a little boy, so there will always be a special spot in my heart for this place.”
Graham, after two-plus seasons mostly watching from the bench and rehabbing from hip surgery, announced Sunday that he was transferring from Florida effective at the end of the fall semester. The development was not unexpected given he'd played just 84 minutes in 25 career games and scored only 11 points on 5-for-22 shooting.
The 6-foot-4 former Orlando First Academy standout, though, said he already had received interest from some Division I schools, including Florida Gulf Coast, and also was looking at a number of Division II offers, with his preference to remain in the state and be close to his family.
Graham, in fact, has twin brothers, Austin and Collin, playing at First Academy. Austin is being recruited by some of the same D-II programs that have reached out to Dillon, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical in Daytona Beach.
“I would love to play a year or two with one or both of my brothers, if possible,” he said.
In speaking about his move, Graham was totally upbeat with no regrets whatsoever in giving Florida, his dream school, a shot.
“I've learned so much from Coach Donovan and all the other coaches,” Graham said. “Things in life don't always work out like you plan. Sometimes when doors close, others open. That's how I look at it. That's what's happened in my life.”
Donovan praised Graham for his honesty.
“I have a high level of respect for him,” Donovan said. “For the last few weeks, I could just see him a little bit unhappy. I dont think it had anything to do with the players or the coaches or the University of Florida. It just got to the point where he asked, 'Is this really what I wanted to do?' He got to a place where his heart wasn't really into basketball.”
Basketball at this level, that is.
Getting on the court at a place like Florida takes an unbridled combination of skill, commitment and passion. All the time invested is difficult when games are spent on the bench.
“Playing time was an issue,” Graham said. “As a player, you want to play. You put so much work into it and you want to play. When you don't, you have to respect the coach's decision. I respect Coach Donovan so much. In the back of your mind, though, you just want to play."
Now Graham will go somewhere with a realistic opportunity to do just that.
