Damontre Harris, who didn’t play a single minute for the Gators during his two-year tenure in Gainesville, will not return to Florida for the 2014-2015 season.
Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com initially reported on his Twitter account (@JonRothstein) that the 6-foot-10 power forward and coach Billy Donovan officially split ties Wednesday, which UF then confirmed.
After joining Donovan and the Gators following his sophomore campaign at South Carolina, Harris was forced to redshirt the 2012-2013 season to comply with the NCAA’s transfer rules. However, when the big man out of Fayetteville, N.C., was eligible to compete last year, shoulder injuries and off-the-court issues kept him from ever playing for Florida.
On Oct. 31, Donovan suspended Harris for violating team rules. On Dec. 21, Donovan dismissed Harris from the squad after the former All-Southeastern Conference Defensive Team member failed to accomplish the necessary steps to make a comeback.
Although Donovan reinstated Harris little more than two weeks after releasing him, the veteran coach said he would need to see a changed attitude in Harris for him to return to the Gators for the 2014-2015 season.
“It could be a great, great story in his life if we can find a way to try to help him,” Donovan said on Jan. 8. “Whenever he gets to practice, if he’s ever able to play here, he knows exactly what he needs to do. Whether or not he can do it, we’ll see, but he wants to give it a shot. And I figured I’d like to try and help him see what he can do.”
After Harris’ departure and after former USF center John Egbunu transferred to Florida on May 15, the Gators are back to having 13 scholarship players on the roster, which is the maximum amount allowed by the NCAA.
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Damontre Harris poses during Florida’s basketball media day. Harris will not return to UF in the fall.
