GAINESVILLE — Dorian Finney-Smith returned to the Florida Gators to play his final season for coach Billy Donovan.
Three weeks after Finney-Smith's decision, Donovan jumped to the NBA, leaving the Gators' top returning player bewildered and wondering what was next.
"It was emotional," Finney-Smith said. "Very emotional."
Finney-Smith spoke to Donovan a day later and put his faith in a coach who had helped him develop as a player and a person over the course of three years and two seasons.
"He told me they were going to find a great coach," Finney-Smith said.