Florida's Nimrod returns to Israel, clears room for recruits

Florida's six basketball recruits signed for 2010-11 put the Gators two over the limit and caused some creative adjustments by Billy Donovan.

Forward Adam Allen, who has battled knee problems since coming to UF, will remain with the team but give up his scholarship. He qualifies for a Bright Futures Scholarship because of his academics, which will pay for his schooling.

Donovan said Allen will graduate next year and it's quite possible he will get two more years of eligibility after 2010-11 because he hasn't played in two seasons and Allen would transfer and use those seasons at a smaller school. Donovan also mentioned baseball as an option after leaving UF. Allen was a standout pitcher in high school.

"His rehab is going well and it looks like things are on course,'' Donovan said. "He's been doing some light running, but he hasn't really been able to do anything basketball-wise yet. So the challenge for him is getting himself healthy to the point where he's able to compete and play. But we don't know that.''

UF could have used a medical exemption on Allen, to keep him on scholarship but not count against the limits. But he wouldn't have been allowed, per NCAA rules, to come back and try to play later.

Guard Nimrod Tishman, a native of Tel Aviv, has decided not to return for his sophomore season and will play professional ball in Israel instead.

I loved him as a kid, he had a great experience,'' Donovan said. "But I think for him, coming all the way the distance that he came, and not really getting the opportunity to play as much as he would like to, and I think part of him even wanted to come back again. But I don't think he wanted to come back if it was going to be kind of the same situation. I think he knew Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker (were here), but I think the adjustment period was something I think was (tough) for him.

"He's got some opportunities in Israel right now that he's going to probably pursue professionally. I loved coaching him, I still have a great relationship with him and his family, but he's going to probably stay back over there. And I certainly appreciate him coming here and giving it a shot.''

Donovan also discussed forward Cody Larson's legal situation on Monday. The South Dakota recruit was given a 120-day suspended jail sentence last week for his involvement in a drug case.

"When we got into the recruiting process, they were very, very forthright, they were very up front and they were very open about what had happened,'' Donovan said. "And for him, I sensed a young man that, one, is probably very, very naïve in a lot of respects. And two, the people that I've known because of dealing with (former Gator star and South Dakota recruit) Mike (Miller) said he's a great kid and he made a mistake. I think he's very, very remorseful for what happened.

"From my perspective, getting to know him a little bit better, I think that this was a mistake that he made that he took responsibility for, he was up front, open and honest with me about, and then checking with people around him I felt like he was a good kid who made probably a bad decision, and a bad choice. And at the time probably when it happened to him, he didn't realize the ramifications of what happened there. So I talked to (UF athletic director) Jeremy Foley and (compliance officer) Jamie McCloskey and our school was totally aware of what was going on. They looked into it too, and I think we all felt like this was a mistake that he made that he's certainly paying the penalty for. But going forward we feel like he could be a good person and a good player. And everybody around him that I know says nothing but great things about him.''

Donovan also sounded confident that Scottie Wilbekin will be able to adjust to college basketball. Wilbekin is graduating from high school as a junior and will try to play for the Gators next season.

"I think that with Ray (Shipman) leaving we certainly felt like the backcourt situation was something depth-wise, and even the Adam Allen situation with him being somewhat of a perimeter player and not knowing where he's at, we definitely had Scottie on our radar and we were recruiting him,'' Donovan said. "Really the person that did most of the work was (UF assistant coach) Rob Lanier, talking to his dad about the possibility of that happening. I think the biggest thing it came down to was would Scottie want to do that and forego his senior year, and two, was it something he felt like he could take on and he could handle?

"And like I told him it's not going to be easy, there's going to be an adjustment period for him and he can't get caught up when he makes a decision like this to later sit there and say I wish I was back in high school. It's going to be hard and I think any freshman goes through a lot of ups and downs. So really, Rob Lanier was the one that really talked to his dad a lot about it. And then once they had spoken about it, Rob came to me and he and I talked. I've always liked Scottie, I've known him a long, long time. He basically grew up with my son in a lot of ways, in the same circles playing basketball so I've watched Scottie a long time.''