In a season of inconsistency for Florida, the Gators suffered another off-court incident heading into Southeastern Conference play.
The Gators announced that center Jon Horford and walk-on guard Zach Hodskins were both suspended for tonight’s SEC opener at South Carolina for conduct detrimental to the team.
Horford has started 12 of 13 games at center for the Gators this season, averaging 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds. The Michigan graduate transfer is the younger brother of former Gators and current Atlanta Hawks standout center Al Horford. Hodskins has appeared in just four games off the bench for the Gators. Born with just one hand and his left arm rounded at the elbow, Hodskins emerged as an inspirational story when he accepted a preferred walk-on spot to the Gators last spring.
With Horford out, Florida will enter its SEC opener with a rotation of eight scholarship players and walk-on forward Jacob Kurtz. Sophomore Chris Walker is expected to step in for Horford and make his third career start at center. Walker was suspended the first two games of UF’s season for an unspecified violation of team rules.
Florida (7-6) enters tonight’s game against the Gamecocks on a two-game losing streak after back-to-back losses to Florida State and Connecticut.
