Forward Alex Murphy and walk-on guards Zach Hodskins and Jhonny Victor won’t return to the Gators men’s basketball roster for the 2016-17 season, according to a UF spokesman.
UF didn’t have specifics on how Murphy’s NCAA waiver application process went but confirmed that his eligibility is exhausted. After transferring to UF from Duke midway through the 2013-14 season, Murphy missed the majority of last year with a plantar fascia tear in his foot.
Murphy appeared in 26 games as a Gator over two seasons, averaging 4.9 points on 45% shooting and 1.4 rebounds per game. He participated in Senior Day festivities last season along with Dorian Finney-Smith.
His return to the Gators this year was highly unlikely – something that UF anticipated, with it reaching the NCAA limit of 13 scholarships this offseason with the addition of three-star big man Gorjok Gak to UF’s three-member 2016 recruiting class also consisting of four-star guard Eric Hester and three-star forward Dontay Bassett.
UF also added transfers Canyon Barry (College of Charleston) and Jalen Hudson (Virginia Tech) this offseason, while seeing DeVon Walker (Troy) and Brandone Francis-Ramirez (Texas Tech) transfer out of the program.
Meanwhile, Hodskins is in a search of an opportunity to play more after joining the team two years ago as a preferred walk-on. Victor’s goal is to focus solely on track & field moving forward.
A fan favorite, Hodskins, who was born without the lower part of his left arm, appeared in 10 games as a Gator and scored one basket during his Florida career - one that received plenty of national media attention this past season. Victor played five minutes in five games last season.
Wednesday, UF also announced numerous jersey number changes and additions on the roster. The jersey numbers of Hester (2), Hudson (3), Gak (12), Bassett (21) and Barry (24) were announced, while four other Gators will wear new numbers this upcoming season. Devin Robinson will wear No. 1 instead of No. 3, KeVaughn Allen will switch from No. 4 to No. 5, Justin Leon will wear No. 23 instead of No. 24, and Keith Stone will switch to No. 25 from No. 23.
The current 2016-17 Gators men’s basketball roster:
-- #0 G Kasey Hill
-- #1 F Devin Robinson
-- #2 G Eric Hester
-- #3 G Jalen Hudson (will sit out 2016-17 per NCAA transfer rules)
-- #5 G KeVaughn Allen
-- #11 G Chris Chiozza
-- #12 F/C Gorjok Gak
-- #13 F Kevarrius Hayes
-- #15 C John Egbunu
-- #21 F Dontay Bassett
-- #23 F Justin Leon
-- #24 G/F Canyon Barry (eligible immediately as a graduate transfer)
-- #25 F Keith Stone
-- #32 F/C Schuyler Rimmer (walk-on)
