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Florida Lands UC Riverside Transfer Point Guard Zyon Pullin
Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff WriterJun 7, 2023, 07:02 PM ET
CloseUC Riverside transfer Zyon Pullin, the best men's basketball guard remaining in the portal, told ESPN on Wednesday he has committed to Florida.
Pullin chose the Gators over LSU after visiting both schools in the past week.
"Ultimately, I saw it as the best fit for me moving forward," he said. "It was a system that fit me and catered toward the style of play [I wanted]. They expressed needing a point guard, a playmaking kind of point guard. Someone capable of running the team."
Pullin spent the past four seasons at UC Riverside, but became one of the more sought-after transfers when he withdrew from the NBA draft and entered the transfer portal. He is coming off a first-team All-Big West season, averaging 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists, while shooting 39.4% from 3-point range. He steadily increased his scoring production in each of his four seasons with Riverside, going from 4.1 points as a freshman to 12.1 as a sophomore and 14.3 as a junior before averaging a career high as a senior.
Pullin, who helped lead the Highlanders to the best Division I season in program history in 2022-23, had 17 points and six rebounds to open the campaign against Colorado, while also putting up 21 points against Oregon and 30 against Portland. He had 24 points and five assists in a conference tournament loss to UC Santa Barbara.
The 6-foot-4 California native is the fifth transfer addition for Todd Golden this offseason, following EJ Jarvis (Yale), Walter Clayton Jr. (Iona), Micah Handlogten (Marshall) and Tyrese Samuel (Seton Hall). Pullin is likely to start at the point guard position immediately, joined on the perimeter by Clayton and returning starters Riley Kugel (9.9 PPG) and Will Richard (10.4 PPG).
"You look at Florida's tradition, the culture around there, the staff and players. I saw myself fitting in with them. There's a connection there," Pullin said. "They wanted a guy that can come in and impact winning from day one."
Pullin, who was represented in the NBA draft and transfer processes by Scott Nichols of Rize Management, said his name, image and likeness potential in Gainesville was part of the decision.
"NIL is a factor now that athletes can get compensated," he said. "My agent Scott helped me a lot during this process, helped me with the NIL stuff. He helped me maximize my NIL opportunity."
Unofficial UNC Basketball 2023-24 Schedule
The 2023-24 college basketball season is still months away, but we are finding out more about the schedule for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Hubert Davis and his staff will have the tough task of rebuilding this roster after failing to make the 2023 NCAA Tournament. With departures to the transfer portal and some arrivals, UNC will have a new look for next season.
Already, we are getting a look at what the nonconference schedule will be for the Tar Heels. They are scheduled to play in four events: Battle 4 Atlantis, Jimmy V Classic, CBS Sports Classic and Jumpman Invitational.
Per usual, UNC's nonconference schedule is pretty tough with some good teams that they will face.
Let's take a look at how the schedule is lining up for the Tar Heels as the rest of it will fully be released this summer, including the ACC schedule.
UPDATED: July 1
vs. Radford (Nov. 6)The Tar Heels open the 2023-24 season at home against Radford on Nov. 6. This will be the third meeting between the two teams. UNC won both matchups in 2008-09 and 2016-17. The Tar Heels won the national championship in both of those seasons.
Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on Feb. 22, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesAnother nonconference opponent is UC Riverside who will come to Chapel Hill on Nov. 17.
Battle 4 Atlantis (November)North Carolina will participate in the 2023 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas this season. Other teams in the field are Villanova, Michigan, Arkansas, Memphis, Oklahoma, Stanford and Northern Iowa.
vs. Tennessee, Nov. 29 (ACC/SEC Challenge)Mar 23, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes works the bench against the Florida Atlantic Owls in the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge will take place in 2023 as the Tar Heels will host the Tennessee Volunteers. This will be the 13th meeting all time between the two programs. North Carolina holds a 10-2 edge. North Carolina beat Tennessee, 73-71, on Dec. 11, 2016 in the Dean Dome, but the Volunteers beat UNC in the last meeting between the two teams, the 2021 Hall of Fame Tipoff.
vs. Oklahoma in Jumpman InvitatonalMarch 4, 2023; Norman, Oklahoma; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Porter Moser watches his team play against the TCU Horned Frogs during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Oklahoma won 74-60. Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY SportsThe second-annual Jumpman Invitational will take place in Charlotte as UNC faces off against Oklahoma. The Tar Heels beat Michigan in the inaugural event in 2022.
vs. UCLA in CBS Sports ClassicFeb. 19, 2022; Los Angeles, California; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin reacts in the first half against the Washington Huskies at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsThe 10th CBS Sports Classic will move to Atlanta this year, and the Tar Heels will face UCLA. North Carolina is 6-3 in this event and is the only participant above .500. It is 2-0 against UCLA in the event.
vs. UConn in Jimmy V ClassicMarch 31, 2023; Houston, Texas; Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley gestures during a practice session the day before the Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at NRG Stadium. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY SportsNorth Carolina will make its return to Madison Square Garden and take on the defending national champions UConn in the Jimmy V Classic. UNC is 5-1 against UConn though the last meeting was in 2005.
Story originally appeared on Tarheels Wire
Grading The Florida Basketball Transfer Portal Additions
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