Florida basketball: Noah Locke, Ques Glover enter transfer portal as assistant coach departs

Basketball

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Image Credit: GatorsMBK / Twitter

Florida Gators basketball will undergo an extensive shakeup ahead of the 2021-22 season with three key roster departures now known. Junior guard Noah Locke and sophomore point guard Ques Glover have decided to enter the transfer portal just one day after star sophomore PG Tre Mann announced he was declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft.

Locke is the most unexpected departure of the three as an 80-game starter over the last three seasons. Though he was inconsistent from game to game and even half to half this season, he averaged 10.6 points for the second straight year. Locke drained 40.4% of his threes and hit 77.8% of his free throws while averaging 2.4 rebounds in 29 minutes per game. A four-star recruit and the No. 80 overall player in the Class of 2018, he started 24 of the 25 games he played this season and was expected to remain in a key role for UF next year.

“I would like to thank my teammates, coaches, staff and Gator Nation for 3 years full of obstacles and experiences that have made me a better basketball player and man! I will always be grateful for all the things that I have learned here at Florida,” Locke wrote. “With that being said, I will be entering the transfer portal to pursue other opportunities.”

Glover saw little action throughout the campaign, playing just 8.4 minutes per game over the 20 contests in which he entered. He was largely ineffective as a shooter and turnover prone, taking a significant step back from his freshman season when he looked to be a capable backup floor general. Glover’s portal move was first reported by 247Sports’ Travis Branham.

All of this comes a day after Mann decided to declare for the NBA Draft, though as a projected first-round pick, his departure was expected.

Also up in the air is the status of junior forward Keyontae Johnson, the Preseason SEC Player of the Year who collapsed on the court in December 2020. Though Johnson returned to the squad as a support system for his teammates, he did not suit up again and left his status for next season and beyond up in the air as he has apparently not yet been cleared to play again. Johnson and Locke are known to be close friends.

The Gators appear set to enter the 2021-22 season without the top three players they had ahead of this past campaign, despite none graduating and only one declaring for the draft at this time. A Johnson return would not only be inspiring off the court but welcome on it.

Furthermore, Florida assistant coach Jordan Mincy, who joined the program alongside head coach Mike White six years ago, was announced Thursday as the new head coach at Jacksonville University. Mincy is considered an up-and-coming young coach and stellar recruiter. He will be the second assistant White must replace in as many offseasons.