GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida guard Urban Klavzar, who previously played with a professional team in Spain, received NCAA approval to participate in this season’s games, a decision announced on Thursday.

Klavzar is set to make his collegiate debut when the 20th-ranked Gators face off against their arch-rivals, Florida State, on Friday, as confirmed by head coach Todd Golden. As part of the NCAA’s decision, Klavzar will be designated as a sophomore rather than a freshman for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, Klavzar had a productive stint with CD Estela Cantabria in Spain’s second division, Primera FEB, where he averaged 8.9 points and contributed 1.3 assists across 33 games. He has also trained with the prestigious Real Madrid team. However, his professional background raised some concerns, leading to him missing the first three games of the season while waiting for clearance from the NCAA.

“It will take some time for him to adjust and integrate with his teammates,” Coach Golden explained. “We have established a good rhythm through those three games. Nevertheless, he is a high-caliber player, and we have anticipated having him as part of our rotation since he joined us over the summer.”

Golden added, “We will need to address some integration challenges moving forward. Of course, we wish we could have had him three games ago, but we’re thrilled that he is eligible to join us now.”