Last week the Gators got some unfortunate news when it was announced that guard Zyon Pullin would be missing the first three games of the season due to a NCAA suspension. The crime? Pullin played in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, an event for graduated seniors to put their skills on display in front of scouts. Historically this has meant only players who have exhausted their eligibility would partake, but with the extra COVID year players like Pullin have participated, and since the Portsmouth Invitational isn’t a NCAA certified event–punishment has always followed.
Florida was aware of the possibility for an incoming suspension for Pullin when they recruited him, but the few games he was going to miss wasn’t enough for the Gators to lose interest.