Forward Dorian Finney-Smith to return to Florida Gators for fifth season

By Adam Silverstein
April 2, 2015

The Florida Gators on Thursday announced that forward Dorian Finney-Smith has decided to remain with the team for his redshirt senior season.

“I got all the information I needed to make a decision,” said Finney-Smith after meeting with head coach Billy Donovan, according to a release on the school’s website. “He didn’t pressure me into anything, but rather let me be a grown man. Coach D is a mentor to me, I trust him and I’m happy and anxious to have another year with him.”


He continued: “I feel like we’ll have a great team coming back and we’re going to do what it takes to lift the program back and play basketball the Florida culture way. I got better [this season], but it was a learning experience being a leader. Now, I’m anxious to build on everything I learned.”

Finney-Smith led the Gators in scoring (13.1 points), rebounding (6.2) and three-point shooting percentage (.426) last season. The 2014 SEC Sixth Man of the Year and 2015 All-SEC second team selection, was also Florida’s best shooter from the field (.472) among regular starters in 2014-15.

A transfer from Virginia Tech, Finney-Smith completed his second season with the Gators this year after sitting out the 2012-13 campaign. A fractured hand suffered early in the season limited his effectiveness during Florida’s Florida nonconference slate, but he rebounded over the latter half of the season and continued to grow on the court, though he did severe a three-game suspension for a violation of team rules.

Finney-Smith’s decision comes one week after junior guard Michael Frazier II chose to forego his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2015 NBA Draft.

Photo Credit: ESPN Images

4 Comments

  1. Christine says:

    It will be great to have him for another year!

  2. Timmy T says:

    Glad to have you back Doe-Doe!

  3. scroud says:

    Outstanding. DFS will have a great year, smart decision.

  4. Will Reaves says:

    DFS, Salute the sign of a True Leader. You got it right, Coach D is a mentor to all Gators, The “John Wooden of the East” Kudus again, After all Basketball is a Team Game.

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