UF coach Billy Donovan announced Wednesday that sophomore point guard Jai Lucas will be transferring from the program.
Donovan and Lucas met to discuss his transfer around 1 p.m. Wednesday. At the time of the meeting, the rest of the team had not been informed of Lucas' decision.
"I feel bad because Jai's a great kid," Donovan said. "Any time a player leaves your program, you're always disappointed."
No players were made available for comment on Wednesday.
Senior Walter Hodge, who scored 12 points off the bench in the Gators' first exhibition against Warner University, will replace Lucas in the starting lineup tonight when UF takes on Rollins College at 7 in the O'Connell Center.
Donovan said Lucas did not feel comfortable at UF, and his departure is not an issue of playing time.
"Part of it was being far away from home and not feeling like it was the best fit for him," Donovan said. "That's the way he put it."
According to Donovan, Lucas wrestled with the idea of splitting time with reigning Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year Nick Calathes at the point, and Lucas did not feel comfortable playing so many minutes off the ball.
Lucas is still free to use the basketball facilities at UF until he leaves, which Donovan said would likely be at the end of the semester.
"We haven't talked about schools or anything like that yet," Donovan said. "He's going to look at his options, and we are going to try and help him pursue whatever opportunities he may have going forward."
Donovan said he was surprised by the news, but understood Lucas' desire to leave if he did not feel at home in Gainesville.
"I'm sure it's something that he's been thinking about for a while," Donovan said. "As a coach, you realize that these guys only have a certain length of time to play in college, and the last thing that you want is for him to be unhappy."
Donovan agreed to release Lucas after speaking to him and his mother.
"I hate to see him go, but I want to see him happy," Donovan said. "There's no reason to go through your career and say, 'Hey, I'm unhappy every day coming to practice.' That's no way to live."
The Bellaire, Texas, native is a former McDonald's All-American and averaged 8.5 points per game for the Gators as a freshman last year, starting all 36 games.
Lucas' transfer means freshman point guard Erving Walker will likely become a major contributor in the backcourt this season.
Walker, who scored 13 points and dished out six assists against the Royals on Tuesday, outplayed Lucas, who went 1 for 9 from the field in his final game for UF.
"Erving has proved at least he can be a formidable backup backcourt player for us, someone we can hopefully rely on," Donovan said.
The recovery of Adam Allen has suddenly become more urgent for the Gators.
Allen has been sidelined with a strained MCL in his left knee for the last two weeks and will be held out of tonight's game.
The 6-foot-8 sophomore averaged 4 points per game in limited playing time last season.
"We need to get Adam Allen healthy," Donovan said.
