Scottie Wilbekin's Florida basketball career took another troubled turn when the junior guard was suspended indefinitely Monday for violating team rules.
The suspension, announced by the school via Twitter, is Wilbekin's second in the span of seven months. Last November, Wilbekin sat out three games (two that counted and the canceled Florida-Georgetown game on the USS Bataan) for violation of team rules.
Florida declined to give the reason for the suspension. Florida coach Billy Donovan also declined Monday further comment on Wilbekin's status.
Wilbekin, a rising senior, had a breakout junior year for the Gators, averaging 9.1 points while finishing second in the Southeastern Conference in assists at five per game. The Gainesville native also was named to the SEC's all-defensive team and developed a reputation as one of the best on-ball defenders in the conference. Wilbekin appeared in 35 games for the Gators, making 29 starts.
Last November, Wilbekin refused to give the reason for his first suspension, saying only he “made mistakes, stuff you can't do. I'm not going to do it anymore.
“I just learned, when you make mistakes, it catches up to you,” Wilbekin said last November. “You've got to move past it, now, it's over and done with. I've got to focus on the rest of the season.”
Wilbekin is one of just two returning starters for the Gators next season (along with center Patric Young) from a team that finished 29-8 and reached the Elite Eight for the third straight season. This season, Wilbekin was expected to move off the ball at times and share point guard duties with incoming freshman McDonald's All-American point guard Kasey Hill.
“The one thing I love about Scottie Wilbekin, is Scottie's first and foremost, his identity has always been defense,” Donovan said in April. “He loves playing defense. And you can play Scottie anywhere. When he's out there, he can function.”
