Florida is closing in on another transfer from Rutgers.
Rutgers sophomore guard Eli Carter announced on his Twitter feed Friday that Florida and Maryland are his final two transfer choices. He will visit both campuses next week.
Florida’s advantage in landing Carter? The relationship between Carter and UF assistant coach Rashon Burno. Both Carter and Burno played at St. Anthony’s in Jersey City, N.J., under legendary coach Bob Hurley Sr. Burno personally reached out to Carter earlier this week to gauge his interest. Florida coach Billy Donovan vistied Carter earlier this week.
Another connection? Mike Rosario, a Rutgers transfer and former St. Anthony’s standout who enjoyed success in his final two seasons at UF. As a senior, Rosario averaged a team-high 12.5 points, helping lead the Gators to an SEC regular season title this past season.
The 6-foot-2 Carter scored a career-high 31 points against the Gators in an 85-83 double-overtime win. He averaged 14.9 points per game in his sophomore season that ended when he suffered a broken leg against DePaul in mid-February.
Here’s some video of Carter
scoring 54 points in a summer league event. Granted, there’s not much defense being played, but it shows Carter’s ability to create his own offense, an element the Gators lacked last season.
Carter could apply for a waiver for the NCAA not to sit out this season due to the circumstances surrounding the firing of Rutgers coach Mike Rice. Otherwise, Carter would have to sit out next season due to NCAA transfer rules. Carter could use that time to continue to heal from his broken leg and learn UF’s intricate motion offense.
If Carter picks Florida, the Gators would reach their limit of 13 scholarships for 2013-14.
