Freshman Francis enters fold, as Gators get back to work
Saturday, December 27, 2014 | Men's Basketball, Football, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- After a longer-than-usual Christmas break, the Florida Gators have some catching up to do before their next game and will jam a few a extra practices in along the way.
Perfect time to throw another player into the mix.
Freshman guard Brandone Francis (right), ruled academically ineligible to play during the 2014-15 season, was cleared by the NCAA to join the Gators for the second semester and take part in all team activities, including practice. Francis will not be eligible to compete in games until the 2015-16 season.
His first collegiate practice Friday night was eventful, with a couple made shots, a few missed defensive assignments and three trips to the sidelines to throw up after a brutal team-wide conditioning session welcomed everyone back.
Let the record show Francis wasn't the only Gator heaving from the holidays.
“It was really hard, but I knew it would be hard,” said Francis, who hails from the Dominican Republic, but starred at Jacksonville Arlington Country Day. “I was down and I was tired, but I just got it in my mind to push through. I have to earn these guys' respect, so I had to fight through it and show some toughness.”
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Francis signed with UF in the fall of 2013, but his transcript was flagged by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Eventually, the NCAA ruled Francis could enroll at Florida, but not be a part of the team for the first semester -- and could only join the squad if he reached a 2.5 grade-point average for the fall.
That meant a lonely basketball existence of shooting by himself, lifting by himself and being relegated to watching practices from the second-floor mezzanine, if at all. It was only after he hit the targeted academic marks two weeks ago that UF's coaches were allowed to get with him and go over their basic actions in anticipation of Francis joining practice.
“It's all worked out,” Coach Billy Donovan said. “The fact he's out there and can be a part of the team is really big for him. The first semester was hard for him, not being able to be at practice or in film or in meetings. Now, it's just good to have him in the locker room and ready to be a part of what we're doing every day.”
Francis is a combo guard who can handle any of the three perimeter spots in the UF system. With his size, comes a willingness to defend and rebound, plus a nice feel and IQ for how to play. Pretty good shooter, too.
“I haven't really practiced since like April,” Francis said. “So just being out here with these guys is a blessing.”
With so much making up to do, Friday night's workout -- which came after a five-day layoff, following last Saturday's win over Wake Forest at Sunrise, Fla. -- was the first of seven practices the Gators (7-4) will hold before playing Tuesday night at Florida State (7-5).
Junior guard Eli Carter, who's missed five of the previous nine games dealing with a sprained foot and strep throat, was back on the court for the first time in two weeks and figures to be ready to play against the Seminoles.
Because it's the holidays, there are no restrictions on how much time coaches can work with players, so that means 8 a.m. individual instruction sessions (starting Saturday), afternoon practices, plus some meetings and video sessions.
“The first day back [from Christmas] always reminds me a little of the first practice of the season, with guys having been away and excited to be back,” Donovan said. “But with so much time off, they need to get their wind back -- and first-day conditioning is part of it. They'll get it back quickly, believe me.”
