South Dakota Roosevelt forward Cody Larson, who received a visit from the IU coaching staff shortly after opening up the recruiting process, has given a verbal pledge to play at Florida.

Stu Whitney of The Sioux Falls Argus Leader talked to Larson on Tuesday evening about his decision:

“It’s still hard to grasp that I’m a Gator. I look forward to getting back down here and starting my college career.”

“Everything about Gainesville wowed me, especially the (players) and coaches. Coach Donovan is going to push me to get better, and the whole experience is going to be a good challenge for me.”

Not a surprising development at all, given the obstacles Larson would have needed to clear to play at another Big Ten school. The success of Mike Miller, another South Dakota kid from the same AAU program, was likely a factor in the Gators standing out above the other schools in pursuit of Larson.

According to a report by Steve Batterson in Sunday’s Quad City Times, former Iowa recruit Cody Larson, who received a visit from the Indiana coaching staff last Sunday, may be unable to receive a scholarship from another Big Ten school.

The same could also be the case for Ben Brust, another Iowa signee who was granted a release from his Letter of Intent and is now receiving interest from Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Both players have learned since being released by Iowa from the national letters of intent they signed in November that they still are bound by a transfer rule which would preclude either from receiving a scholarship from another Big Ten institution.

The Big Ten rule, which has been on the books for decades, took affect when the players signed letters of intent. Because neither has attended a class at Iowa, both are attempting to appeal their eligibility for a scholarship with the Big Ten.

If the appeal by Brust and Larson is unsuccessful, both still could enroll at another Big Ten school but would be required to pay their own way and compete as walk-ons as former Hawkeye Luke Recker did after leaving Indiana and eventually enrolling at Iowa.

If Larson is unable to to attend another Big Ten school on scholarship, I’d say the chances of him coming to IU or any other school in the league are close to zero.

Indiana’s pursuit of a big man for its 2010 class continues to roll on full steam ahead.

The latest target is 6-9, 230-pound Sioux Falls (SD) forward Cody Larson, who was released from his Letter of Intent with Iowa on April 9.

Larson, who committed to the Hawkeyes and former coach Todd Lickliter in September of 2008, met with new Iowa coach Fran McCaffery last Thursday and requested his release.

“Anytime you have a new coach, you have a whole new program,” Larson told Stu Whiney of The Argus Leader of his decision to re-open the process. “When I committed, I did it because of Coach Lickliter, and it was hard to see him leave. I just want to make sure I find what the best option is for me.”

On Sunday, the final day of the April 8-11 contact period, Tom Crean, Tim Buckley and Bennie Seltzer visited Larson in South Dakota, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Larson, who has four official visits remaining, is not speaking publicly about his recruitment at this time, but is expected to take some time to work through the recruiting process before making a decision. The spring signing period begins this Wednesday and concludes on May 19.

As a senior at Roosevelt High School, Larson averaged 19.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists, but was suspended near the conclusion of the season. Details of the suspension were not made public.

Larson’s game, which is described as a mix between a three, four and a five, reportedly has similarities to Mike Miller, who came through the same AAU program, the Dakota Schoolers. Scout.com lists Larson as a four-star prospect and the No. 23 power forward in the country while Rivals.com lists Larson as a three-star.

(Photo Credit: Rivals.com)