The Florida Gator men’s basketball team announced today that rising senior guard Scottie Wilbekin has been suspended indefinitely from the team due to a violation of team rules.
This is Wilbekin’s second suspension in nine months after missing the first three games of the 2012-2013 season due to another violation of team rules. It is unknown at this time when or if Wilbekin will be allowed to return to the team.
Heading into his senior season, Wilbekin was set to assume a leadership role for Florida in his final year in Gainesville. Wilbekin averaged 9.1 points and 5 assists as a junior and became a household name for his lock down defense.
With a thin back court already, the loss of Wilbekin would be a major blow to Florida’s 2013-2014 campaign. Florida has already lost point guard Braxton Ogbueze this off season when he elected to transfer out of the university.
The current depth chart would force incoming five star freshmen Kasey Hill to take a majority of the responsibility handling the ball and running the offense for the Gators next season.
Throwing Hill to the forefront is certainly not what the Gators had in mind for the McDonalds All-American’s first year. Florida will have to hope Rutgers shooting guard transfer Eli Carter will be able to play immediately to provide increased depth behind sophomore Michael Frazier II.