Scottie Wilbekin’s career at Florida has taken another misstep.
Florida has suspended the rising senior point guard for violating team rules, the school announced Monday.
UF did not release any further details. Under terms of suspension, Wilbekin will not be allowed to work out at the Florida basketball practice facility until he is reinstated.
Wilbekin’s suspension is his second in eight months. He was suspended on Nov. 8 for breaking team rules.
The 6-foot-2 guard missed UF’s first three games – including Florida’s canceled matchup against Georgetown aboard the USS Bataan in Jacksonville on Nov. 9.
“He starts fresh and clean in my mind,” coach Billy Donovan said after Wilbekin’s first suspension was lifted.
“Although we did address the things he has done, I think I’d be making the mistake as a coach to constantly keep holding onto that, because I’m expecting him to move on and expecting him to be committed to himself, the team and the things he needs to do here.”
After Florida began the season 2-0, Wilbekin said the suspension was humbling.
“It proves I’m not bigger than the team and no player is bigger than the team,” he said.
Wilbekin had a breakout season as a junior in 2012-13, averaging 9.1 points on 45.3 percent shooting, five assists and 2.9 rebounds in 31.9 minutes per game as UF’s starting point guard.
Heralded as one of UF’s best on-ball defenders, he tallied a team-best 53 steals and was named to the Southeastern Conference’s All-Defensive Team.
Wilbekin is one of two starters returning to a UF team that reached the Elite Eight for the third straight year. If his suspension continues into the 2013-14 regular season, Florida’s depth at point guard would be tested.
With Braxton Ogbueze transferring to UNC Charlotte, the only other natural point guard the Gators have on their roster is five-star recruit Kasey Hill.
Contact Landon Watnick at lwatnick@alligator.org
Point guard Scottie Wilbekin dribbles to the lane during Florida’s 77-44 win against Georgia on Jan. 9 in the O’Connell Center. UF suspended Wilbekin indefinitely on Monday for violating team rules.
