The University of Florida men’s basketball team saw a pair of players honored by the SEC today as sophomore forward/center Patric Young (Jacksonville, Fla.) and freshman guard Bradley Beal (St. Louis, Mo.) were named the SEC Player and Freshman of the Week , respectively. The Gators become the first team to sweep the Conference honors this season.
Young took home his first-career Player of the Week honor after a stellar week where he averaged 18.5 points, on 77.3 percent shooting (17-22) and 10 rebounds in a pair of victories over Arizona and Rider. Against the Wildcats, Young set career-highs in points (25), field goals made (12) and minutes played (38) and also grabbed 10 boards helping the Orange and Blue pull out a 78-72 overtime victory. Young followed up his strong performance against Arizona with another double-double, on 12 points and 10 rebounds, against Rider in his hometown of Jacksonville. With the two double-doubles during the last week, Young now has four double-doubles on the season and in his career.
Beal was named SEC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season (Week of Nov. 28) after averaging 13.5 points and five rebounds in the Gators 2-0 week. Beal scored nine points and added six boards in the overtime win over Arizona and followed up that performance with an 18 point and four rebound s against Rider.
Young, Beal and the rest of the Gators will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 17, when they take on Texas A&M in a neutral-site game at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. The game, slated to tip off at 2:30 p.m., will air on Sun Sports.
