Scottie Wilbekin is working his way back into coach Billy Donovan’s good graces.
The senior point guard will rejoin the Gators when the team holds its first practice on Oct. 11, UF announced Thursday via its team website.
Suspended since June 10 for violating team rules, Wilbekin has been working out at UF’s basketball facility away from the team.
Wilbekin will be made available to reporters at Florida’s annual media day on Wednesday, the school also said.
At the Jimmy V Classic Gala on Wednesday, Donovan said Wilbekin would miss an undisclosed amount of games to start the season.
“When I allow him to play, that is an unknown right now,” Donovan said.
“But he’s done everything I’ve asked him to do through the summer and now into conditioning. He’s not quite back on our team yet, but right now he’ll be back to start practice.”
Wilbekin averaged 9.1 points and five assists per game as a starter last season. In his likely absence, five-star signee Kasey Hill will fill in at point guard.
Florida kicks off its season at home against North Florida on Nov. 8 and then will travel to Madison, Wis., to face Wisconsin four days later.
Yeguete, Carter not ready: Senior forward Will Yeguete (right knee) and Rutgers transfer guard Eli Carter (fractured right fibula) will not be cleared to participate in Florida’s first practice, Donovan confirmed Wednesday.
Yeguete underwent arthroscopic debridement on his right knee in May to repair cartilage. His initial projected recovery time was about four months.
Donovan said Yeguete is “still in the process of rehabbing.”
Carter suffered his season-ending injury in Rutgers’ game against DePaul on Feb. 16.
“It’s going to be a process,” Donovan said of Carter in a release.
“Right now, he’s way, way behind. He’s behind in terms of his conditioning and being able to play. He’s only been able to do a few workouts by himself.”
When the Gators open practice on Oct. 11, Florida will be without three key players — Yeguete, Carter and five-star forward Chris Walker, who is still not enrolled at UF due to academic eligibility issues. Walker could join the team in mid-December at the earliest if he enrolls for the 2014 spring semester.
“Starting the season, the team that’s on paper will not be our team,” Donovan said.
“It’s just not. So I think trying to get our guys to come together as a team is the biggest challenge. We’re kind of disconnected right now, so this preseason, these first practices, we have to do some team-building.”
Follow Landon Watnick on Twitter @LandonWatnick.
Scottie Wilbekin dribbles the ball during Florida’s 66-45 win against Middle Tennessee on Nov. 18 in the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Florida begins its season against North Florida on Nov. 8.
