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Former Gator F Kevarrius Hayes Thriving Overseas

By Will Thomas

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 15: Kevarrius Hayes #13 of the Florida Gators celebrates in the game against the LSU Tigers during the Quarterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 15, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 15: Kevarrius Hayes #13 of the Florida Gators celebrates in the game against the LSU Tigers during the Quarterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 15, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Former Gator basketball forward Kevarrius Hayes is doing great things overseas with his club Frutti Extra Bursaspor, who are now in the finals of the 7DAYS EuroCup Final, where they will face Virtus Bologna on Wednesday, May 11.

Hayes had 11 points, 16 rebounds, and 27 PIR (performance index rating) in their semifinal win over Morabanc Andorra.

On the season, he’s averaging 9.7 points, 6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 1.5 blocks a game.

He had the best game of his overseas career on March 29, when he scored 25 points, had 6 rejections, and totaled 37 PIR.

Back during his time in Gainesville, he was one of former coach Mike White’s key pieces in the paint. He only averaged 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds a game over his whole career, but he was one of the Gators most consistent defenders, with an average of 1.5 blocks and just under one steal a game. He ranked first in the country in defensive box plus/minus in 2019, cementing himself as a premier defender.

https://twitter.com/SECNetwork/status/1106980047154405377?s=20&t=9gXAgszLkBZssn66XLbQwQ

Hayes was a part of the 2017 Gators team that reached the Elite Eight, and was also on the Florida squad who knocked off top seeded LSU in the SEC tournament in 2019. He was always a key piece in the Gators rotation those years, playing over 20 minutes a game with around a 62% field goal percentage in his final two years in Gainesville.

As a Gator fan, it’s great to see a guy like Hayes having success at the professional level. Even though he wasn’t an All American at UF and wasn’t able to make a push for the NBA, he represented the logo with class and always gave Gator fans all he had. It’s always a good sign to see former Gators succeeding professionally.

Keep up with everything Gator hoops here.

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