NCAA rules Florida’s Gak ineligible to play in 2016-17

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida center Gorjok Gak will not be eligible to play as a freshman next season.

The Gators announced Tuesday that the NCAA cleared Gak for enrollment this fall but denied his ineligibility for the 2016-17 season. The 6-foot-11, 205-pounder from Australia will be allowed to practice and take part in basketball-related activities, but not games.

He attended high school at Victory Rock Prep in Bradenton. If he meets progress marks, he will be cleared to play as a sophomore in 2017-18 and have three seasons of eligibility left.

Gak averaged 13.8 point and 9.3 rebounds last season at Victory Rock. He signed with the Gators in April after being released from a national letter of intent he signed with Oklahoma State last November. He requested his release after the Cowboys fired Travis Ford.

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Written by Adam Zagoria

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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.