Five months removed from his announcement that he would forego his final two years of college eligibility to test the waters of professional basketball, Nick Calathes found himself back in the O’Connell Center on Friday. Only this time, he was in the stands as a fan.
Sitting in the west-end bleachers for the No. 5 UF volleyball team’s dismantling of Mississippi State, a spot where he sat for several matches during his two-year stay in Gainesville, Calathes wore a Gator shirt and socks adorned with the NBA logo. For many who follow the former McDonald’s High School All-American, it’s a surprise the 6-foot-5 guard won’t be a part of either organization this season.
Before he would be drafted in the second round by Minnesota, and eventually have his rights traded to Dallas, Calathes agreed to a three-year contract worth a reported $2 million per season with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos. The contract included a house and breaks that would make the deal nearly tax free.
