For the second time in four seasons, Rutgers’ top offensive threat will transfer to Florida.
Eli Carter, the Scarlet Knights’ leading scorer with 14.9 points per game last season, announced Tuesday via his Twitter account (@Eli_Carter5) that he will transfer to UF. Carter follows in the footsteps of Mike Rosario, who transferred from Rutgers to Florida in 2010 to play his final two seasons with the Gators.
“Proud to announce that I will be continuing my career at the University of Florida !! #Gators,” Carter tweeted at 2:11 p.m.
Carter has two years left of eligibility and could apply for a waiver to play during the 2012-13 season, given the circumstances of former Rutgers coach Mike Rice’s firing.
The 6-foot-2 guard narrowed his choices down to UF and Maryland after also previously considering Memphis, Creighton, Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Carter canceled his visit to Maryland and visited UF on Sunday and Monday.
Carter’s decision to transfer is part of an exodus at Rutgers after the firing of Rice on April 3. On April 2, ESPN’s Outside the Lines released hours of footage from Rice’s practices, during which he verbally and physically abused players.
Starting guard Jerome Seagears, reserves Malick Kone and Vincent Garrett, and guard Mike Poole have also left the program since Rice’s departure.
Last season, Rutgers went 15-16 and finished 12th out of 15 teams in the Big East.
A 38.4 percent shooter, Carter averaged 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists last year in 28.8 minutes per game before fracturing his right fibula on Feb. 16 against DePaul. He averaged 13.8 points his freshman season.
Carter had the best game of his freshman year against the Gators. In Rutgers’ 85-83 double-overtime victory against Florida, Carter scored a game-high 31 points on 12-of-24 shooting, grabbed seven boards and notched seven assists.
If Carter is ruled eligible to play immediately, he would join next year’s backcourt of senior guard Scottie Wilbekin, freshman point guard Kasey Hill and sophomore shooting guard Michael Frazier II.
The addition of Carter puts UF at 13 scholarship players -- the NCAA maximum.
Eli Carter (left), Rutgers' leading scorer last season with 14.9 points per game, announced April 30 that he will transfer to UF. Carter's decision to transfer followed the firing of former Scarlet Knights coach Mike Rice.
