Gators C Patric Young dealing with mono

By Adam Silverstein
September 18, 2012

Junior center Patric Young, one of the top frontcourt players in the country and a huge returning asset for the Florida Gators, has missed the last three weeks of workouts while suffering from mononucleosis, head coach Billy Donovan told ESPN on Tuesday.

Young, who started 32 of 37 games for the Gators in 2011-12 and averaged 10.2 points along with 6.4 rebounds, is scheduled to begin working out again on Wednesday and expected to be on the court for the first day of team practice on Oct. 12.

“I think he’s going to be fine, but there’s going to be some stamina issues with him because he hasn’t done anything for three weeks,” Donovan told ESPN. “We’ve got plenty of time where we can get him back to that point.”

Young expressed his frustration with being out of action via his Twitter account one week ago. “Do i still play basketball? Havent touched a basketball in forever,” he wrote in two consecutive tweets on Sept. 11.

Florida bolstered its frontcourt in the offseason though both players it added to the fold – transfers sophomore forward Dorian Finney-Smith and junior F/C Damontre Harris – will not be eligible to play this season as they must sit out a year per NCAA rules.

That leaves the Gators with Young, junior F Will Yeguete, senior F/C Erik Murphy and redshirt sophomore Cody Larson as players capable of spending extended time inside.

Considering Florida is set to open the season on Nov. 9 against a top-notch opponent for the first time since 2001-02, getting Young back healthy for the start of the 2012-13 campaign is of paramount importance to the team.

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