GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida center Patric Young is suffering from mononucleosis but is expected to be fine when the Gators begin practice Oct. 12.
Florida coach Billy Donovan said Young, who averaged 10.2 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds last season, has missed the past three weeks while recuperating but should return to workouts Wednesday. He was diagnosed when classes began in late August.
"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 said. "We’ve got plenty of time where we can get him back to that point."
Donovan said the 6-foot-9, 249-pound junior had been having a good offseason until he got sick, but the coach added that the time away might actually help Young because it’ll be extra motivation for him to fix the stamina issues that affected him last season.
"I think it could be a blessing in disguise," Donovan said. "He’s been away from it and missed it and he realizes he’s not in shape, and the other guys are and he has to push himself to get himself back in shape."