As seniors Kasey Hill and Justin Leon move on, the NBA draft could create even more holes in the starting lineup for the Gators basketball team.
On Tuesday, coach Mike White said he expects center John Egbunu and forward Devin Robinson to declare for the NBA draft.
“I think he’ll probably test the waters and see what type of feedback he gets,” White said of Egbunu. “That’s probably what he ends up doing, and we’ll support him as best as we can.”
Egbunu’s season ended on Feb. 14 when he tore his ACL at Auburn. With Egbunu looking to be evaluated by NBA teams before announcing his decision, White said the injury will only make the process tougher for the redshirt junior.
“I don’t know how much thorough feedback he’s gonna get,” White said. “He can’t go try out. He can’t travel. He can’t do individual workouts. He can’t do a vertical jump test, you know?”
To complicate things, Egbunu gets his degree this semester.
“(For Egbunu), it’s a matter of ‘Do I apply for grad school, or do I pursue the professional basketball thing?’” White said.
Egbunu led Florida with 6.6 rebounds per game in the 2016-17 season and averaged 7.8 before his season-ending injury.
The Gators will also likely lose their second-highest scorer in the NCAA Tournament to the draft in Robinson. White said he’d be somewhat surprised if Robinson returned for his senior year.
In 2016, Robinson declared and then withdrew his name from the NBA Draft after his sophomore season.
“With this being his second go-around pursuing this thing, I think that it may be difficult for him to not follow through this year,” White said.
Robinson averaged 12.5 points per game during four March Madness games, including 24 points against East Tennessee State. After his performance in the tournament, White said Robinson returning would be a huge advantage for the program’s recruiting prospects.
“A big recruiting coup this spring would be if Devin recommitted to being a Gator,” White said.
White said Florida’s postseason run likely elevated professional prospects not only for Egbunu and Robinson but also players aging out of UF, like Hill, Leon and graduate transfer Canyon Barry.
“Hopefully it (will) open up more doors, more opportunities for these guys that are on their way out,” White said.
Follow Matt Brannon on Twitter at @MattB_727, or contact him at mbrannon@alligator.org.
Florida forward Devin Robinson (left) and center John Egbunu stand in a timeout huddle during Florida's 71-62 win over Texas A&M on Feb. 11 in the O'Connell Center.
