Transfer G Canyon Barry a big-time addition for Florida Gators basketball

By Adam Silverstein
May 9, 2016
Transfer G Canyon Barry a big-time addition for Florida Gators basketball
Basketball

Image Credit: ESPN Images

Florida Gators basketball got some big news on Monday when College of Charleston guard transfer Canyon Barry announced he will continue his career as a graduate student in Gainesville, Florida.

“Blessed to be a Florida gator!” Barry tweeted.

Barry chose Florida as his destination after a long recruitment following his decision to leave Charleston for a major program in his last year of eligibility. He will be eligible to play immediately.

The youngest son of NBA Hall of Fame guard Rick Barry, Canyon (6-foot-6, 205 pounds) is choosing UF over his father’s alma mater of Miami along with a reported list of finalists that included Cal, Kansas, Louisville, Northwestern and Ole Miss. ESPN ranked him as college basketball’s No. 2 available transfer this offseason.

“The University of Florida is a great fit for me for several reasons,” Barry began in a lengthy statement released by Charleston. “First, they have an exceptional nuclear engineering program and actually have one of the only nuclear training reactors in the southeast. Secondly, I really like Coach [Mike] White, his integrity, his honesty with me, and his style of play. He and I both feel that I can make an immediate contribution on the court and help the team chase the goals of winning an SEC Championship and getting to the NCAA Tournament next season. I met the players on my official visit and felt right at home in Gainesville. Their dedication and enthusiasm have me truly excited to play with these guys.”

Canyon Barry averaged 19.7 points in 31.9 minutes per game for Charleston last season, though he only played in 12 contests after suffering a shoulder injury. In those 12 games, Barry scored 20-plus points seven times. The versatile wing scorer shot 40.2 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, hitting 84.5 percent of his free throws – underhanded.

Yes, Barry has continued his father’s legacy of under-handed free throw shooting, which will debut in an orange and blue uniform this season. (It would probably be a good idea for Barry to teach this technique to the rest of the Gators considering the team’s woeful free throw shooting over the past few seasons.)

Barry brings a needed point-scorer to Florida’s roster next season as the team’s leading scorer, forward Dorian Finney-Smith, graduated and departed for the NBA.

The Gators had two open roster spots before Barry’s decision due to the transfers of G/F DeVon Walker and G Brandone Francis-Ramirez. Should redshirt senior F Alex Murphy receive the medical redshirt for which he applied, UF will have a full complement of players entering the 2016-17 campaign.

Let’s take a look at how Florida basketball’s roster stacks up at this time (classes represent the player’s designation for 2016-17, players who will see major minutes listed).

Point guard
Kasey Hill, senior — 6’1″, 180 lbs.
Chris Chiozza, junior — 6’0″, 175 lbs.

Guard
KeVaughn Allen, sophomore — 6’2″, 183 lbs.
Canyon Barry, graduate transfer — 6’6″, 205 lbs.
Eric Hester, freshman — 6’3″, 175 lbs.

Forward
Devin Robinson, junior — 6’8″, 195 lbs.
Justin Leon, senior — 6’8″, 196 lbs.
Keith Stone, redshirt freshman — 6’8″, 233 lbs.
Dontay Bassett, freshman — 6’8″, 210 lbs.

Center
John Egbunu, redshirt junior — 6’11”, 255 lbs.
Kevarrius Hayes, sophomore — 6’9″, 210 lbs.
Schuyler Rimmer, senior (walk-on) — 6’10”, 245 lbs.
Gorjok Gak, freshman — 6’10”, 205 lbs.

Pending
Alex Murphy, redshirt senior — 6’8″ 225 lbs.
– Murphy has applied for a medical redshirt. If it is not applied or he chooses to return to the team as a walk-on, Florida would have an additional scholarship to fill.

Departures
F Dorian Finney-Smith (graduation)
G/F DeVon Walker (transfer)
G Brandone Francis-Ramirez (transfer)

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