Florida guard Eli Carter to redshirt this season

Nicole Auerbach | USA TODAY Sports

Florida junior guard Eli Carter, a transfer from Rutgers, will redshirt the rest of this season as he continues to recover from a broken leg suffered last February, a person with knowledge of the decision confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team has not announced it publicly.

The decision to redshirt Carter doesn't come as a huge surprise, as Carter has averaged just 7.6 minutes of playing time per game and did not play Monday night against in the Gators' loss to Connecticut. He has scored three points on the season.

Before his injury, he averaged 14.9 points per game to lead the Scarlet Knights.

The Gators' backcourt — which, at full strength, would have been one of the deepest in the country — is now one of the thinnest.

Kasey Hill, a highly touted freshman point guard, suffered a high ankle sprain on Nov. 18, which could keep him sidelined for a month. Against UConn, senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin sprained his ankle in the game's final minutes and did not return.

"I was concerned coming down the stretch with Scottie being out," Florida coach Billy Donovan told reporters afterward. Donovan said he wasn't sure how bad the sprain was yet.

Hill and Wilbekin average better than 10 points and four assists a game.

Injuries seem to be the only thing holding Florida back from being a true Final Four contender, and Donovan's team has been hit hard. Donovan played just eight players Monday, and this injury bug couldn't have come at a worse time. The Gators play No. 7 Kansas and No. 15 Memphis in the next two weeks.