Patric Young, alongside his play-by-play partner Kyle Crooks, Thursday night at the O'Dome.
Harry Fodder: Young Starts New Career in Familiar Place
Friday, November 19, 2021 | General, Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
Share:
By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — One of the biggest concerns about the Florida basketball roster this season is the lack of size and post depth. After Colin Castleton, the Gators don't have much proven experience and production in the low post.
That guy in the broadcast pit Thursday night could have helped.
Patric Young, the 2014 first-team All-Southeastern Conference center and league defensive player of the year, was back at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center in his new role as color analyst for the SEC Network. Young made his debut, appropriately enough, at center court of the place he used to leap for opening tips for the better part of his splendid 150-game career at UF.
"It's kind of surreal. I'm covering a game and a team I played for seven years ago," Young said earlier Thursday afternoon during the team's O'Dome shoot-around. "But it can't be 'we' anymore. It's 'Florida.' " Patric Young during his UF playing days
And Florida won Thursday, obliterating Milwaukee 81-45 in a game that looked much like the days Young was patrolling the paint in a UF uniform and carving out one of the most decorated careers in UF history.
Young is all over the Florida basketball record books. He's the program's 28th all-time scorer with 1,307 points and finished in the top-10 in blocked shots, field-goal percentage, minutes and games started. His finest season, of course, was that magical 2013-14 run to the Final Four — alongside fellow seniors Scottie Wilbekin, Casey Prather and Will Yeguete — when the 6-foot-9, 250-pound Young averaged 11.0 and 6.2 rebounds while playing traffic cop in the middle of the a defense that helped the Gators win 30 in a row and go unbeaten in SEC play on the way to both the league regular-season and tournament tiles.
Off the court, Young was also a standout student in the UF College of Journalism. After injuries ended his overseas basketball career, Young, who still lives in his native Jacksonville, decided it was time to put his telecommunications degree to good use.
"I think I'm ready for this," he said. "I'm going to stay involved and be passionate about it."
The SEC Network had been interested in bringing on Young for several years. And why not? Not only as he affable, engaging and smart (two-time SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year, by the way), but also telegenic and with tremendous conference pedigree, having played four seasons for Billy Donovan on a team that went a combined 120-30 and reached four Elite Eights and that 2014 Final Four.
Though he did not officially retire until last year, Young had some tryouts (both live and via Zoom during COVID) that he aced and led to his current role. Mostly, he'll be in the network's Charlotte studio breaking down the league in round-table format, but he'll get a few cracks as color analyst as well.
"After doing studio for the first time, I feel I over-prepared," Young said. "With TV, you have to be so concise and quick, but I went into it with the expectation where I would analyze by saying why this is happening or that is happening, then maybe give a little back story on a player. No. There's no time for that. Give two thoughts and move on."
And what about when it comes to be critical? Of, say, the Gators?
Young smiled.
"Absolutely, for sure, I'll be able to it," Young said. "It's about how you portray the message. The 'sandwich method.' Give a compliment, levy it with a critique, then give another compliment."
In his first go-round, there wasn't much to pick on about his former team. That had to be fine with Young, who was made for this role and almost certainly will be receiving his share of compliments in his new endeavor.
