Florida Basketball: Analyzing Gators depth chart going into 2010-21 season
Third Guard Minutes Distribution
Projected Starter: Scottie Lewis, SO
One of the more surprising NBA draft decisions this offseason was Scottie Lewis deciding to return to Florida after being the ninth overall high school recruit in 2019. While the 8.5 points per game he averaged last season may seem disappointing, his gradual improvement throughout the season was a major positive. In conference play, he was quite solid for a freshman, with shooting splits of 47.3/43.6/91.5 plus a steal and a block per game.
If Lewis is able to keep up even similar efficiency as their potential number one option offensively, he could be in for a massive season. At the end of the day, he bet on himself by coming back to college, and it’s extremely unlikely he hasn’t put in the work to improve heading into this year. Combining his elite athleticism with his jumper hitting consistently and his strong defense could lead to a potential All-SEC nomination.
Reiterating that the Gators are small on the perimeter, Lewis stands at only 6-5, 185 playing as the third biggest starter on the floor. While many college teams do play with three guards, there will be some teams in the SEC that can take advantage of the slim frame of the guards. Lewis being able to hold his own defensively against stronger wings will be a key to team success, beyond his own individual numbers.
While Mann will likely also see some minutes behind Lewis, four-star recruit Samson Ruzhentsev may be in the rotation from day one. The long and lanky 6-7 guard is touted as one of the top shooters in his class and has found success internationally from Russia.
Typically, freshmen with international experience are quicker to adapt to high-level college basketball, very much like Santiago Vescovi for Tennessee last season. While it may not be a plethora of minutes, Ruzhentsev could bring some energy and shooting off the bench.