Projecting Florida Players Staying, Leaving After Title Win in 2025 NCAA Bracket
The Florida Gators are NCAA men's basketball national champions thanks to Monday's win over Houston, and it may be just the start for a program on the upswing.
Head coach Todd Golden took the controls in 2022-23, and Florida finished a game below .500 that year. After improved to 24 wins and a seventh seed in the Big Dance last season, the school registered its first 30-win record and top NCAA seed in 11 years before achieving championship glory.
Yes, some significant changes loom on the horizon. The standout trio in UF's backcourt is all no longer eligible to play at the college level.
But there's no shortage of optimism in Gainesville.
Who's Staying
There will be lots of production to replace, yet the Gators shouldn't be short on familiar players next season, either.
Sophomore forward Alex Condon faces the most interesting stay-or-go decision. This projection sees him leaving, so UF's top returning players would otherwise be starting center Rueben Chinyelu and key backups Thomas Haugh and Denzel Aberdeen.
Sam Alexis and Urban Klavzar had notable backup roles on the perimeter at various points in the 2024-25 campaign, as well.
Micah Handlogten, a 7'1" center, will return after recovery from a significant knee injury limited him this season. Meanwhile, the Gators will be looking to formally unveil 7'9" center Olivier Rioux following his redshirt year.
Who's Leaving
What a difference some transfers can make.
Golden plucked Will Richard from Belmont, Walter Clayton Jr. from Iona and Alijah Martin in the last three respective offseasons. They came together this year and propelled the Gators to a 30-win record with an SEC tournament title.
All three are out of eligibility, though, so they'll shift to chasing the professional dream as Alex Condon makes a very important decision.
Will the sophomore forward test the NBA draft waters? If he does, will there be enough positive feedback that convinces Condon not to withdraw? Given his versatility on both ends, he's a real candidate to leave early.
The good news is Florida otherwise would only be dealing with outgoing transfers, and maybe the Gators won't have any of those anyway.
Who's on the Way
Given how much Golden has sought out transfers in recent years, expect the roster's main reinforcements to come through the portal.
But these two incoming freshman sure are talented, too.
Florida has signed 4-star guard Alex Lloyd and holds a commitment from 4-star forward CJ Ingram. Both are ranked as top-50 prospects in the class. There are conflicting reports on whether Ingram has officially signed, but UF seems unlikely to lose the son of former Gators tight end Cornelius Ingram.
Even as that duo arrives, it's fair to assume Florida will prioritize the backcourt in the portal with any frontcourt moves hinging on Condon's decision.