Former UC Riverside point guard Zyon Pullin is headed to Gainesville.
After narrowing things down to just Florida and LSU on Monday, according to ESPN college basketball insider Jeff Borzello, Pullin locked things in with Todd Golden and Co. midweek. He was in town over the weekend for an official visit with Florida, which clearly helped influence the decision.
Landing Pullin is a massive win for Golden, who is heading into his second year at the helm of the men’s basketball program. A 16-17 finish to the 2022-23 campaign didn’t provide an ideal start to Florida’s so-called Golden Era, but the team looks completely different after several transfer portal moves.
NEWS: UC Riverside transfer Zyon Pullin has committed to Florida over LSU, he told ESPN. Pullin was the best guard remaining in the portal. First-team All-Big West selection averaged 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season. Gives the Gators a major backcourt boost.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) June 7, 2023
Pullin is the second guard Florida has added through the transfer portal. Former Iona guard Walter Clayton Jr. is the other, but the staff would like him to play at shooting guard. Adding Pullin frees up the two-spot for Clayton, who might end up playing minutes behind Riley Kugel and Will Richard.
A First Team All-Big West selection in 2022-23, Pullin averaged 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
Florida has two remaining scholarship spots to fill now that Pullin is on board. The Gators missed on Dedan Thomas, who committed to UNLV over Florida in May, but Golden could look to add one more high school player. Bringing in some international talent isn’t out of the question, either.
Whatever changes are made moving forward should be minor, though.
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