With his recent pectoral strain, his nagging knee injury and the normal wear and tear that comes with week after week of physical exertion, Vernon Macklin has felt more than his share of discomfort throughout the season.
The senior center hasn’t had a day without a visit to the trainer since the preseason, and he has had so many treatments that he has become practically numb to most of them.
“I can put ice on for like an hour, and I won’t feel it,” Macklin said. “It don’t even feel cold anymore. … I think I need to try something new.”
But, in the face of it all, Macklin has appeared in every game and started all but one, putting together a strong season that he will look to continue when Florida (13-3, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) squares off against South Carolina (10-5, 1-1 SEC) on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the O’Connell Center.
The senior has been a force in the paint from day one, scoring 10.9 points and grabbing 6.1 rebounds per game.
The majority of those points have come off his nearly unstoppable hook shot, which has allowed him to post a team-leading 57.1 field goal percentage.
“If I get a good look at the rim and the guy don’t leave his feet, I’m confident I can put the right touch on it and it’ll go in,” Macklin said.
When Macklin can use his quick first step to square his shoulders and get into the body of his defender, there is very little that can be done to stop him one-on-one.
Even if the senior gets matched up against a shot-blocker with the ability to contest his initial attempt, Macklin can shift to a running hook across the lane.
The senior can execute the move with such consistency and precision that it’s hard to believe he hadn’t attempted a hook shot until he started his college career.
“In high school, I never learned it,” Macklin said. “I thought it was silly to try, so I never tried.”
While at Georgetown, Macklin learned the art of the hook from current NBA players Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green.
He only added to his skills after transferring to Florida, where he discovered a face-up game and started practicing with a medicine ball to give the hook more strength and consistency.
Now in his senior year, Macklin has added yet another move to his offensive repertoire: the drop step.
Whenever teams double him or play him inside to prevent the hook, he can now step to the basket and finish with a layup.
“He’s worked on that part of his game. He’s gotten better at that,” Donovan said.
This scoring prowess is an unexpected development from Macklin, who left high school renowned for his effort, shot blocking and athleticism.
Now, the only things potentially standing in his way are his nagging injuries, although his teammates expect him to continue playing through the pain.
“I definitely do admire that. He’s a warrior and he’s probably one of my favorite people
I’ve ever played basketball with,” center Patric Young said. “I learn from him. He’s a good role model to me, and he’s just a warrior.”
