By MATT SUGAM & ADAM ZAGORIA
Eli Carter has received a waiver from the NCAA to play immediately.
“We are happy to have Eli available to play this season,” head coach Billy Donovan said.
An NCAA source told SNY.tv in August that Carter was “expected” to get a waiver.
Carter transfered from Rutgers following the Mike Rice fallout.
Carter is the fourth and final Rutgers player to be granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA, following Vincent Garrett at Green Bay, Mike Poole at Iona and Derrick Randall at Pitt.
The 6-foot-2 Carter averaged 14.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists before fracturing his right fibula in mid-February against DePaul. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Florida lost Mike Rosario and Kenny Boynton, while Scottie Wilbekin is suspended indefinitely. The Gators return Michael Frazier and bring in Kasey Hill, a dynamic five-star point guard who played with Frazier at Montverde (FL) Academy.
“With Wilbekin being down, Eli brings experience to the backcout,” Sports U coach Brian Coleman previously told SNY.tv.
“He also brings a toughness and an ability to score from beyond the arc and get in the lane. I’m looking forward to watching Eli grow as a player under coach [Billy] Donovan].”
The news was first reported by CBSSports.com.
