Former Maryland center Gus Gilchrist, rated the nation’s No. 9 center as a senior in high school in 2007, will transfer to the University of South Florida, his trainer/adviser Terrelle Woody said Sunday.

The 6-foot-9 Gilchrist also considered Kentucky and West Virginia. Woody said Gilchrist chose USF because of three reasons: USF junior point guard Chris Howard, a former high school teammate of Gilchrist’s, a chance to play in the Big East and playing for USF coach Stan Heath.

“He really liked the school,” Woody said. “Gus is really good friends with Chris and he wanted to play in the Big East. He also really liked Coach Stan Heath.”

As a senior at Progressive Christian, Gilchrist averaged 22.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. He initially signed early with Virginia Tech in November 2006, but opted out of his letter of intent because of the tragic April 2007 shootings. He enrolled in Maryland in January 2008, but the Atlantic Coast Conference ruled Gilchrist would not be eligible until January 2009 and would lose a year of eligibility because he had previously signed with another ACC school. This decision prompted him to leave Maryland.

“No one ever told him about it [the transfer rule],” Woody said. “They sprung it on him. He could have gone to any school in the country after Virginia Tech.”

Maryland’s appeals to have Gilchrist eligible this fall were denied, so that’s why Gilchrist left Maryland, Woody said.

Woody said USF would begin the process Monday to appeal to the NCAA for a hardship waiver that would allow Gilchrist to play this season at USF. If the appeal is not successful, Gilchrist would not be able to play at USF until the 2009-10 season.

Gilchrist plans to attend summer school at USF starting June 30, Woody said.