Transfer G Jalen Hudson another big addition for Florida Gators basketball

By Adam Silverstein
May 11, 2016
Transfer G Jalen Hudson another big addition for Florida Gators basketball
Basketball

Image Credit: ESPN Images

Just two days after locking up one backcourt transfer, the Florida Gators have added another talent player to the fold as Virginia Tech guard Jalen Hudson has decided to transfer to Florida over Texas.

“Excited to announce that I will be finishing my college career at The University of Florida!” Hudson wrote on Twitter.

Update: Florida officially confirmed Hudson’s addition on Monday, May 16.

Hudson, a former three-star prospect out of St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High School who started 24 of the 35 games he played for the Hokies last season, averaged 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists during the 2015-16 campaign. He shot 40.1 percent from the field (down 7.8 percent from the season prior) but made 34.6 percent of his shots from beyond the arc (up 6.3 percent) and 67 percent from the free throw line.

“I believe in what Coach White is building,” Hudson told ESPN. “I think Florida gives me a great opportunity to perform at a high level, win at a high level, and ultimately pursue my dreams in playing in the NBA.”

At 6-foot-5, 195 pounds, Hudson is yet another big guard that head coach Mike White has added to his Florida roster. Unlike Charleston transfer G Canyon Barry, a graduate student who will be eligible immediately, Hudson will sit out the 2016-17 campaign per NCAA rules before having two years of eligibility remaining.

As it turns out, Florida is getting not one but two players in Hudson, whose alter ego “Tyrone” was known to find his stroke and pour on the points for Virginia Tech.

“Jalen [is] our most talented player, but he didn’t play hard enough to be that every game,” said VT coach Buzz Williams during Hudson’s freshman season, according to TheKeyPlay.com. “When he plays hard, he’s really good, and when he doesn’t play hard, he’s just a 6’4″ guard that doesn’t play hard.”

The Gators had two open scholarships before Barry’s decision due to the transfers of G/F DeVon Walker and G Brandone Francis-Ramirez.

With the incoming transfers of Barry and Hudson, there are no additional scholarships for Florida to hand out to players this season. Should redshirt senior F Alex Murphy receive the medical redshirt for which he applied, he would need to play for UF as a walk-on during 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.
Jalen Hudson, junior — 6’5″, 195 lbs. (ineligible in 2016-17)

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 approved, he would return to the team as a walk-on.

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

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