Former Florida Center Jason Jitoboh Transferring to Tennessee State

Former Gators center Jason Jitoboh will fulfill his final season of collegiate eligibility at Tennessee State.

Photo: Jason Jitoboh; Credit: Zach Goodall 

Florida Gators center transfer Jason Jitoboh is heading to Tennessee State for his fifth and final collegiate season, he announced on Sunday.

Jitoboh chose the Tigers over internet from Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Loyola Chicago and Seton Hall.

He becomes the second Gators portal entrant to find a new home this offseason, joining Kowacie Reeves Jr. (Georgia Tech).

Watch this 🙏🏾 #GoTigers pic.twitter.com/wNcqtWAu9K

— Jason (@JasonJitoboh) April 9, 2023

Initially joining the fold as a project recruit for former UF head coach Mike White out of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Jitoboh saw time sparingly in the early stages of his career, averaging six minutes or below in his first two seasons.

As a junior, his time operating in rotation became more consistent.

However, a severe eye injury suffered on the road at Tennessee — which a tumultuous recovery process for him to return to the hardwood — derailed his third season in orange and blue.

Todd Golden’s first year at the helm brought Jitoboh’s most productive season as he filled a major role in the team’s attack following Colin Castleton’s absence to close the season.

Jitoboh averaged 5.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game over the final seven contests without Castleton in the fold. Despite Florida’s relative mediocrity during that stretch, the reserve big man received praise from the first-year head coach for his contributions despite minute-limitations being a concern due to his 6-foot-11, 300-pound makeup.

He finished his Gators career averaging 2.6 points on 58.3% from the field and 1.5 rebounds.

The Abuja, Nigeria, native will now fulfill his final season of eligibility in his host state of Tennessee, giving him a fresh start in a program that better positions him to be a significant factor next season.

As a result of the mass exodus the team a experienced this offseason, Golden has begun to fill out the vacant spots on their roster following the eight departures from a season ago, already pinning down Yale transfer EJ Jarvis to fill a hole at the four spot.

Several prospects, including Micah Handlogten (Marshall), Tylor Perry (North Texas) and Jared Bynum (Providence), officially visited Gainesville over the weekend. Florida recently hosted Iona transfer Walter Clayton Jr. on an official visit as well, while former Charleston Southern guard Claudell Harris Jr. is scheduled to arrive on campus on April 14 for his multi-day stay.

The Gators continue to pursue other potential candidates to plug holes on the roster as well.

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