Todd Golden comments on losing EJ Jarvis, how it impacts Gators
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After taking a leave of absence last month, Florida forward EJ Jarvis is stepping away from the game of basketball for good. He announced his decision Thursday on Instagram.
The 6-foot-8 graduate transfer from Yale had been away from UF for nearly two weeks while dealing with a “personal” situation, according to coach Todd Golden, who added that his return was TBD.
Jarvis has now decided to discontinue his hoops career.
“Since the age of four, I have been playing basketball. And for the last 19 years, it has played a huge role in shaping me into the man I am today- something I will forever be grateful for. At this point in my career, I feel it would be best to pursue other opportunities in life. So with that being said, I have made the difficult decision to step away from the game of basketball,” Jarvis posted on IG.
“I would like to emphasize how understanding and supportive Coach Golden, the coaching staff, and my teammates at the University of Florida have been. I am genuinely thankful for all the relationships I have made while at Florida and will be cheering them on as they work towards their goal of winning a National Championship.
“To Gator Nation, while my time in Gainesville was shorter than expected, I want to personally say thank you for welcoming me with open arms. The strong sense of community in Gainesville is unlike anything else in this world and I truly appreciate the love I felt from Gator Nation.
“I am blessed to leave basketball as a Nike EYBL Peach Jam Champion, 3x Ivy-League Champion, All-Ivy selection, Academic All-Ivy honoree, and March Madness participant. I am beyond grateful for the people I have met and the experiences I have gained through basketball. Rest assured that all is well and I am excited for whatever journey lies ahead- more to come!”
Todd Golden on EJ Jarvis
UF men’s basketball coach Todd Golden spoke with FloridaGators.com’s Chris Harry about the departure of Jarvis. He came to Gainesville earlier in this week to gather his belongings and say his goodbyes.
“While we’re disappointed we won’t have E.J. with us for the upcoming season this decision is best for him at this time of his life,” Golden said.
With Jarvis no longer with the Gators and sophomore forward Aleks Szymczyk sidelined with a broken out, Golden will be counting on a pair of true freshmen to step up in the front court behind starters Tyrese Samuel and Micah Handlogten.
“Not having [Jarvis] in our program will certainly affect our depth, but it also opens up a great opportunity for a couple of our freshmen,” Golden said. “Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh will be ready for their increased roles.”
