PG Braxton Ogbueze to transfer from Florida

By Adam Silverstein
May 1, 2013

Florida Gators guard Braxton Ogbueze informed the team that he had decided to transfer and was granted his release from the school on Wedesday.

Gators head coach Billy Donovan announced in a press release that Ogbueze, who averaged 4.7 minutes per game during his true freshman season last year, will no longer with the program going forward.

“Braxton has been a hard worker with a great attitude, and we wish him nothing but the best as he moves on,” Donovan said.

“I’ve appreciated the opportunity here at Florida and have learned a lot that will help me in the future,” Ogbueze said in the same release.

The player’s family had been murmuring about a transfer when Ogbueze failed to see significant court time during the 2012-13 season. With UF adding Rutgers transfer guard Eli Carter to the fold on Tuesday, Ogbueze obviously felt that he would have a better chance to succeed elsewhere.

A four-star prospect in 2012 and the No. 78 overall recruit in the country according to Rivals, Ogbueze originally chose Florida over Baylor. He committed on March 9, 2011.

The Gators now have an open scholarship for the 2013-14 season though it is unlikely to be filled over the summer. Carter will file a waiver with the NCAA to skip his redshirt transfer season and be eligible to play immediately for Florida.

Ogbueze is the second true Gators transfer (Walter Pitchford) since Florida lost four members of its 2008 recruiting class (Allan Chaney, Kenny Kadji, Ray Shipman, Eloy Vargas). Cody Larson gave up basketball before the 2012-13 season and Nimrod Tishman, after joining UF for the 2009-10 campaign, moved back to Israel.

6 Comments

  1. VO2max says:

    Good luck kid.

    Another SCHOLLIE!

  2. Michael Jones says:

    That’s why I think so highly of the Mike Gillislees and the Mack Browns of this world. Guys who have the guts to stick it out, wait their turn, and earn their playing time.

    • Swell Miguel says:

      While I agree, as a fan, it’s nice to hear stories like Gillislie’s, you can’t fault the kid for wanting to play more. He’d likely seen the writing on the wall through most of the season, and all he did was keep his personal situation within the team and help them make another deep run.

      Good luck, Braxton.

      • Michael Jones says:

        I understand your points, and I thank him for his year at Florida, and I wish him the best. My point is that you really can’t “see the writing on the wall” as a true freshman. It takes a little more time and a little more effort and investment into a program than that. There are a lot of twists and turns in a 4 (sometimes 5) year career. And while nothing is guaranteed, hard work and perserverance usually pay off great dividends.

        That’s why I so admire and respect the kids that stick and stay. That takes a lot of character. It’s why I hope that–if all other things are equal–Tyler Murphy gets the nod over Skyler Mornhinweg for the 2d string QB position. The kids who hang tough should be rewarded for that. The guys coming up behind them will get their chance.

  3. KGator says:

    I believe Ray Shimpan transfered to UCF to play football for the Golden Knights. So in a way Shipman, like Larson, gave up basketball only Larson didn’t have the desire and/or ability to play another scholarship sport.

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