He's back! Gators center Micah Handlogten will play this season
Florida starting center Micah Handlogten, who has been out since he sustained a broken left leg in the SEC Tournament last March, announced Friday he will play the remainder of the season. His return to action will be Saturday night when the No. 3 Gators play host to South Carolina. Handlogten could have chosen to take a redshirt.
“I’m back,” Handlogten told reporters.
Handlogten, a 7-foot-1 junior who started, averaged 5.3 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 64.4 percent from the field in 33 appearances with 32 games started last season. The Gators currently are 21-3 overall and 8-3 in the SEC entering Saturday’s game vs. the Gamecocks. While Florida has one of the most complete and versatile lineups in the country, the potential addition of a player with Handlogten’s size and skillset down the stretch would have added another element to an already stacked roster.
Right now, the Gators need Handlogten more than ever, with starting center Alex Condon currently dealing with a lower ankle sprain, which he sustained in a win Tuesday at No. 22 Mississippi State.
“I think it’s the time — the team needs me,” Handlogten said. “I’ve been ready to play. I’ve had some hesitation in the past but I’ve moved on past that. And I’m ready to get out there and hoop for the Gators.”
Asked when he made the decision to return, Handlogten replied, “Officially, this morning.” Just eight days earlier, Gators coach Todd Golden said Handlogten was not likely to suit up in a game this season.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
March Madness
NCAA Top 16 seeds revealed
- 2
Brad Stevens
Makes Indiana intentions clear
- 3
Auburn vs. Alabama odds
Point spread released
- 4
Dawn Staley
Admonishes rev-share reversal
- 5Trending
Joel Klatt
NFL Mock Draft
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“I’ve been wanting to play the last couple weeks,” Handlogten said Friday. “We kind of had a little thing before the Georgia game. Ultimately, had some second thoughts. But I know that now more than ever the team kind of needs me. And I’m ready to fill in and be there for them.”
What were those second thoughts based on?
“A little bit of, just if I’m ready or not,” Handlogten said. “I kind of just had some hesitations when it came to that. And then, whenever during these past three weeks or whatever it’s been I’ve just been able to get a lot more confidence in myself. And I’ve been playing really well in practice and I think I’m ready.”
For Handlogten, it was a mental — not physical — thing, it seems. He’s been cleared to practice for awhile.
“That’s definitely the hardest part of being injured,” he said. “Especially with a gruesome one like mine. You know, you never know if it’s going to happen again. I mean, I have faith it’s not going to happen again because there’s a titanium rod in my leg. I’m not going to break the leg again. But just gaining trust and being able to mentally prepare for that and be ready to get back on the court. It takes a long time but once you get confident, you can get confident. And I think just being able to play against some of the best bigs and the best players in the SEC let alone the nation in practice each and every day, it helps.”
