The Florida Gators take the court for the first time since orange and blue confetti fell in San Antonio, celebrating their third national championship. Fresh off their first title under head coach Todd Golden, who enters his fourth season at UF, the Gators face the challenge of reloading after losing significant firepower.
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Departures and Returns
While UF’s top three scorers all departed for the NBA Draft—Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard formed the highest-scoring trio in a single season in program history—the Gators return their top four rebounders and three of their next four highest scorers. The trio became draft picks in UF’s second-most players taken in a single draft, with five selected in 2007.
Frontcourt Foundation
Florida’s strength lies in its returning frontcourt. All primary contributors are back, including juniors Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon, and Thomas Haugh, along with senior Micah Handlogten. Condon, a third-team coaches All-SEC performer in 2024-25, averaged 10.6 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds last season. Both Condon and Chinyelu tested the NBA Draft waters before opting to return to Gainesville. Haugh proved his worth in the postseason, averaging 12.0 points over Florida’s nine-game championship run.
Transfer Portal Additions
To address backcourt losses, the Gators made a splash in the transfer portal, securing a trio of guards who comprise a top-five transfer class nationally. AJ Brown (Ohio), Boogie Fland (Arkansas), and Xaivian Lee (Princeton) all averaged double-figure scoring at their previous schools.
Florida also returns guards Urban Klavžar and Isaiah Brown, along with center Viktor Mikić, all looking to expand their roles in their second season. Walk-ons Cooper Josefsberg and Olivier Rioux round out the roster.
Season Opener and Schedule
The Gators open Monday night at 7 PM against No. 13 Arizona in Las Vegas. The teams have split four all-time meetings, including memorable battles in the early 2010s when Florida won in overtime at home before Arizona claimed a one-point victory in a top-10 rematch in Tucson.
Florida has been dominant in season openers, winning six straight and 33 of their last 34 dating back to 1991-92. Golden is 3-0 in his season openers as UF’s head coach.
The nonconference slate is formidable, featuring neutral-site matchups with Arizona, UConn, and Miami, a high-level Thanksgiving tournament (Providence/TCU/Wisconsin), and a home game against Florida State. In SEC play, the Gators will face two-game series against Georgia, Kentucky, and South Carolina.
The Bottom Line
Can Todd Golden guide this retooled roster to back-to-back championships? With a dominant frontcourt, elite transfers, and one of the nation’s toughest schedules, the Gators will be tested early and often in their title defense.