GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Former South Carolina forward Damontre Harris is headed to Florida.

Harris officially announced his intent to join the Gators on Wednesday. He will have to sit out the 2012-13 season under NCAA transfer rules, but will have two years of eligibility remaining.

In two seasons at South Carolina, Harris averaged 5.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks a game. The 6-foot-9, 226-pound big man started 30 of 31 games for the Gamecocks last season and ranked second in the Southeastern Conference with 71 blocks. He also led South Carolina in rebounding, with 5.5 boards a game, and had 17 double-doubles.

Florida has forward Erik Murphy and center Patric Young returning next season. But both could be gone when Harris is eligible to play in 2013-14.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)