Gators forward Tuongthach Gatkek enters NCAA transfer portal
For the second time this week, a Florida men’s basketball player has entered the NCAA transfer portal as Tuongthach Gatkek submitted his name Thursday.
He joins UF starting point guard Tyree Appleby, who entered the portal on Monday. Forward Anthony Duruji also declared last Friday for the 2022 NBA Draft.
Tuongthach Gatkek, a JUCO transfer, averaged 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds last year in his only season with the Gators. He appeared in 21 games for just 163 minutes total, the second fewest on the team.
Gatkek’s best game came against Oklahoma State, setting season highs for points (8) and minutes played (22) with three blocks and three rebounds in Florida’s 81-72 win over the Cowboys.
With the departures of Appleby, Duruji and Gatekek, new Florida coach Todd Golden now returns six scholarship players next season including guards Myreon Jones, Kowacie Reeves, Niels Lane and Elijah Kennedy.
Golden also brings back center Jason Jitoboh and foward CJ Felder, and said he’s recruiting fifth-year senior Colin Castleton back for a sixth season as well.
“His return definitely would help,” Golden said of Castleton. “I think it would give us a little bit of a jump start and getting back moving in the right way, so I’ll work hard seeing what he wants to do. But, being in a new program, it has to work for both sides. He’s gotta be comfortable. He’s gotta be excited about it. And I’ve just been really impressed with him so far in regards to his intelligence and type of kid he is.”
