Gators Reach Out To UConn Graduate Transfer Alterique Gilbert

So far Florida’s offers and interest to transfers has largely slanted towards big men but there is a very interesting point guard that the Gators have been pursuing—UConn’s Alterique Gilbert. An immediately eligible graduate transfer he’ll have plenty of high major interest around the country and the Gators are one of the teams vying for his services. Gilbert is listed (quite generously, honestly) at 6’0” and 180 pounds, and he hails from Atlanta.

Here are his 2019-20 stats:

8.5 Points
3.8 Assists
2.6 Rebounds
2.3 Turnovers
1.1 Steals
31.8% 3PT
34.6% FG
67.1% FT

As you can see, Gilbert isn’t a great shooter and the negative aspects of his game are shown in his unimpressive shooting percentages. They also aren’t the product of one bad season as his career 3-point percentage is 31.8% and his career field goal percentage is 36.5%. Sadly, he doesn’t have much accuracy from behind the arc, and he’s not a great finisher at the time either. That has made for some frustration surrounding Gilbert’s game at times, and certainly could have played a role in the relationship at UConn coming to a close as he never felt particularly comfortable in the offensive system.

Here are some more tidbits about his game, starting with his passing ability. Gilbert played next to another true point guard in Christian Vital and that brought his playmaking opportunities down a bit, but while his raw assist numbers aren’t particularly high his assist rate is actually really good, 135th in the country. So, he’s a better playmaker than his assist numbers would suggest and that’s important to note. As well, it’s worth noting that he did shoot 36.5% from three in conference play, so there is a chance he’s a better shooter than his season total would suggest as he started the season ice cold (including a 0-6 performance against Florida).

Where Gilbert brings tremendous value is on the defensive end. With some of the quickest feet in the country he pressures the ball with fierce energy and he can single handedly blow up an opposing team’s offense. Unfortunately for Florida, we saw this when the Gators took on the Huskies. Gilbert was getting into Nembhard’s jersey the moment he passed the half court line and denied him the ball back, stalling Florida’s offense and forcing one of the Gators’ worst scoring games of the season. Even though Gilbert is small he is extremely strong and is physical at the point of the attack, influencing ball handlers to where the defensive scheme wants them to go.

In a lot of ways he, defensively at least, is the kind of point guard Mike White loves. The Gators’ best teams under White have had either Chris Chiozza or Kasey Hill at point guard, smaller guards with a defensive game like Gilbert who set the tone defensively and contributed heavily to the Gators being so good on their side of the floor. Having a point guard who can defend at a high level is so important because it’s the opposing player at that position who has the ball in their hands the most, so if you can neutralize that player or force the ball out of his hands you’ve already done well defensively.

Gilbert’s career has been quite a wild one. Out of high school he was a 5-star McDonald’s All-American, one of the most exciting players in his class who seemed destined to be a one-and-done NBA talent.

That was back in 2016.

Then, sadly, the injuries started. A major shoulder put an end to his first season, and another shoulder injury came in his second year. His bad luck didn’t end there as he even had a fluke eye injury that took him out for a while and may have even altered his ability to shoot from range. The injuries completely changed the trajectory of his career, and while he was a solid player at UConn he definitely hasn’t been able to live up to the hype from his high school days.

If his injury history freaks you out that’s understandable, but those injuries were in his first two seasons and he has been mostly healthy for the last two years. As well, his injuries were to the shoulder and eye, so it wasn’t anything lower body that would affect his athleticism. When you see him out there on the floor he’s one of the quickest players in the country who battles physically on opposing guards, and there isn’t anything he does that makes him look like a player that battled injury.

A shorter point guard that’s a former McDonald’s All-American that hasn’t lived up to the hype and struggles to shoot but can really defend….does that remind you of anyone?

There really are a lot of similarities between Alterique Gilbert and Kasey Hill, and despite what a certain group of the fan base thinks, Hill was a great Gator.

You saw Gilbert’s stats earlier, and here are Hill’s junior numbers when he was in the same position as Gilbert.

9.1 Points
3.3 Assists
2.4 Rebounds
2.0 Turnovers
1.5 Steals
29.7% 3PT
39.1% FG
53.8% FT

Hill put up very similar numbers to Gilbert, and it shows just how similar these players are. Gilbert is definitely a bit better of a shooter than Hill and can be trusted more in free throw situations, and Hill was a better finisher at the rim than Gilbert is, but still they are very similar players and considering how much White liked Hill you can see why he’d like Gilbert.

It’s not yet known if Andrew Nembhard is returning to school or going pro, but if he is the Gators would love to have some insurance at the point guard spot. Tyree Appleby is expected to produce coming off a redshirt transfer year and there are definitely some big believers in Ques Glover but some depth at the position would be valuable.

Also, let’s remember that the Gators were poor defensively last season and that has to be eating away at White. Appleby is a fantastic offensive point guard but wasn’t the most rock solid defensively at Cleveland State, so White may be looking for some defensive options to change the look up at that position. Gilbert is used to playing with another point guard at UConn and the Gators would be happy to roll out two ball handlers at times so the fit could certainly work, but there is a chance he is looking to transfer to a place where he could get a more primary role.

It’s tough to say what Florida’s chances are of landing him as it’s early in the process, but I could certainly see the Gators pursuing him with some vigor. Depth at point guard hasn’t been a thing in Gainesville since Kasey Hill and Chris Chiozza played together and they’d love to get back to that, and right now Gilbert is one of the best graduate transfer options. Landing him would totally change the complexion of Florida’s defense, so this is definitely a pursuit to watch.

Eric Fawcett
Eric is a basketball coach and writer from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. His work has been found at NBA international properties, ESPN, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Lindy's and others. He loves zone defenses, the extra pass, and a 30 second shot clock. Growing up in Canada, an American channel showing SEC basketball games was his first exposure to Gator hoops, and he has been hooked ever since. You can follow him on Twitter at @ericfawcett_.

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