Parsons has new identity without Calathes

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The buzz cut is gone, replaced by a mop top of brown hair and a scruffy goatee.

Florida forward Chandler Parsons said he was going to cut his hair last week. What changed his mind?

“I don’t know,” Parsons said at Southeastern Conference media days. “The look is growing on me, I guess.”

Call it a new identity. For Parsons, who has had an up-and-down first two seasons with the Gators, his junior year will be the first chance for him to emerge from the shadow of his former college roommate.

Since seventh grade, Parsons had played alongside former Lake Howell High and UF teammate Nick Calathes. But Calathes surprised the Gators last May when he announced he was leaving for a pro contract in Greece.

“I thought it would be more awkward than it has been,” Parsons said of life without Calathes.

Parsons said he still talks to Calathes nearly every day.

“His phone number, they’ve got some weird numbers over there and it seems like he changes it all the time,” Parsons said. “He’s happy there. He asks about how we’re doing.”

The 6-foot-9 Parsons has been working out at small forward and shooting guard this fall. On Thursday, red scratches were draped across his hands.

“You should see my arms,” Parsons said. “Guys are getting after it. I’ve had my shot blocked more times the last two weeks than I did in the previous two years of practice.”

Parsons had a terrific stretch in late January of last season. Including a career-high 27 point game against Vanderbilt, Parsons averaged 14.5 points and eight rebounds in five straight Southeastern Conference games. But he struggled down the stretch, reaching double figures in scoring just three times in his final nine SEC games. By the end of the season, Parsons had lost his starting job to freshman Erving Walker.

“I think it was just a case of confidence,” Parsons said. “I lost confidence in my shot.”

Florida coach Billy Donovan said maturity also played a factor in Parsons’ nosedive.

“No question he’s needed to grow up,” Donovan said. “I don’t know if any of our guys had a clear understanding or level of awareness of what goes into it. They thought they had it figured about and maybe our non-conference schedule and our early SEC schedule gave them a false sense of security.”

Whether starting or coming off the bench this season, Parsons said he is eager to assume a leadership role. Parsons is one of four upperclassmen on the team, joining junior Alex Tyus, junior Vernon Macklin and senior Dan Werner.

“I know with a guy like (freshman) Erik Murphy, I’m going to be pushing him through conditioning drills because I know what it means for the team,” Parsons said. “We’re going to be a family this season.”

FREE THROWS: Donovan said he has been “very pleased” with how Walker has adjusted to the full-time point guard role in practice this week, “He’s in great shape,” Donovan said. ... Donovan was one of the few coaches in the league to lose an underclassmen in Calathes. On the subject of underclassmen, Donovan said a big reason why Corey Brewer, Al Horford and Joakim Noah decided to come back for their junior seasons is they didn’t want to leave Taurean Green behind. “That’s the kind of guys I had,” Donovan said.

Contact Kevin Brockway at 352-374-5054 or brockwk@gvillesun.com. Also check out Brockway’s blog at gatorsports.com.