GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Florida center John Egbunu is returning for his final year of eligibility, a big boost for a team that made the Elite Eight last season.

Egbunu graduated from Florida this spring with a sociology degree, and even though he's recovering from a left knee injury suffered in mid-February, he decided to explore his professional options. Unable to work out for NBA teams, he decided Friday to play another season for the Gators. He is expected to return in mid-January.

Egbunu says it's a "chance for me to continue to improve and grow as a player and help the team however I can."