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GAINESVILLE — His bloodlines are princely, his résumé is impressive and his transition has been seamless.
UF small forward Canyon Barry quickly has proven to be an essential addition to the Gators since transferring for College of Charleston for his final season.
The son of Hall of Famer Rick Barry and half-brother to another pair of NBA veterans, Jon and Brent, Canyon Barry arrived last spring with ample hype and expectations. Leading up to this week's AdvoCare Invitational in Orlando, Barry has not disappointed.
Barry leads the Gators averages a team-high 13.3 points, chips in 4.3 rebounds a game and has shot 48.6 percent from the field.
"He's just a really versatile and experienced player," UF coach Mike White said. "We've got to continue to find way to get him more and more involved in the offense."
The 6-foot-6, 215-pound has come off the bench for the Gators (4-0) and provided a lift when needed during the past two games, wins against St. Bonaventure and Belmont.
Barry led UF with 16 points last Thursday against St. Bonaventure and 17 against Belmont on Monday in Tampa. During the Gators' 78-61 win Monday, Barry tallied 11 points during a 16-0 run, showing he is more than a catch-and-shoot scorer.
"I attacked the hole well and I was able to get to the rim," he told the school's website. "They guys kept feeding me."
Barry's savvy and scoring ability were key selling points when he decided to transfer for his final season. Last season at Charleston, he averaged 19.7 points in the 13 games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
Like his legendary father, Barry shoots free throws underhanded and hit 84.5 percent in 2015-16, when UF shot 64.7 percent — 323rd of 346 Division I teams. Barry is 14 of 18 this season.
"He's in a really good rhythm now," White said.
Beginning Thursday, Barry and the Gators now will make a step up in competition.
The Gators open against Seton Hall, 3-0 and a 2016 NCAA Tournament team. The winner advances to play the winner of No. 14 Gonzaga and Quinnipiac on Friday.
Barry has not been the Gators' sole bright spot.
Forward Devin Robinson has scored in double-figures in every game and is shooting 58.1 percent from the field (18 of 31). Backup center Kevarrius Hayes already has 11 blocked shots while starter John Egbunu averages a team-high 8.5 rebounds.
But UF needs better play from points guard Kasey Hill and Chris Chiozza. Hill shot 2 of 11 against Belmont, while Chiozza had just one assist and two turnovers. The duo are 2 of 13 from 3-point range.
"We've beaten four pretty good teams on neutral floors — that's better than the alternative — but we've got a ways to go," White said. "This is a long season and we have to get better. We've shown it in spurts. We have to do it in longer spurts."