GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida officially signed graduate transfer and St. Bonaventure guard Kyle Lofton on Friday, a potentially huge addition for new coach Todd Golden.
Lofton earned All-Atlantic 10 honors each of the past three seasons while totaling 1,613 points and 604 assists. The 6-foot-3 point guard started 116 games during his four years with the Bonnies, averaging a nation-leading 38.1 minutes a game and shooting 42.1% from the field and 82% from the free-throw line.
“He’s a proven winner and leader,” Golden said. “He makes others around him better and cares only about one thing: winning.”
Lofton should be an upgrade from turnover-prone point guard Tyree Appleby, who transferred for the second time and landed at Wake Forest.
Lofton helped St. Bonaventure reach the NCAA Tournament in 2021, leading the Bonnies with 23 points in the Atlantic 10 championship game.
He joins VMI point guard Trey Bonham, Belmont shooting guard Will Richard and LSU forward Alex Fudge as transfers Golden has lured to Gainesville. They are expected to be the core of the program, along with big man Colin Castleton and guard Kowacie Reeves.
Loften’s former Bona teammate, Osun Osunniyi, on Friday announced he’s transferring to Iowa State.
The 6-foot-10 Osunniyi averaged 11.3 points and 7.5 rebounds and ranked eighth nationally with 2.94 blocks. He has one season of eligibility.
Osunniyi is the Bonnies’ career blocks leader and was a member of the Atlantic 10 all-defensive team four straight years. He blocked at least one shot in 29 of 31 games, including 19 with three or more.
Osunniyi is the second former St. Bonaventure player to transfer to Iowa State. The other is guard Jaren Holmes, who was the Bonnies’ second-leading scorer.
Other transfers joining the Cyclones are Hason Ward (VCU) and Jeremiah Williams (Temple). Tre King transferred from Georgetown during the season and will be eligible for 2022-23.
