The men’s squad of the Florida Gators is focused on winning the 2023 Jumpman Invitational.
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The Florida Gators have experienced success after shocking the nation with several top-25 victories and a postseason trip to the NIT the previous year, and they are hungry for more this time around. Coach Todd Golden is committed to helping the Gators return to the picture of title contention as he builds on the foundation he and the squad set in Gainesville during his second season in charge. Florida is positioned to be a surprise contender in the SEC this season after being picked to finish in the middle of the pack in the preseason media poll.
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In addition to recruiting through the transfer portal and prep ranks, Coach Golden has been methodically constructing his program. He also instills a winning attitude and a dedication to team success, which begins on the defensive end. At one point in the previous season, the Gators’ defensive efficiency ratings on KenPom put them in the top 10, and they ended up ranking seventh in the country with slightly over five blocks per game. The Gators added some offensive firepower to the mix with a combination of highly anticipated transfers and returning players who have elevated their play, which could result in an intriguing brand of basketball.
Riley Kugel is a player whose season is anticipated by many to be historic. Many are shocked that, given his abilities from the previous season and his ability to enter the NBA, he is even back in college. In conference play, the former top-100 recruit averaged 12.6 points per game, the most by a Florida freshman since Bradley Beal in 2011–12. He was named an SEC All-Freshman. Kugel was selected for the Coaches’ Preseason All-SEC Team this year.
The key component of the Gators, the 6-5 swingman is off to a fantastic start this season, demonstrating why, should he choose to make the move, he will undoubtedly be selected in the first round of the draft. Even though he is at the top of opponents’ scouting reports, he still thrives in his role as he shut down No. 13 Baylor with a silky 25 points and 9 rebounds. Fortunately, he is not the only one who has to carry the weight of offensive output. His backcourt partner is demonstrating an equally potent skill set.
Walter Clayton Jr., a 6-2 combo guard transfer from Iona who won the MAAC Player of the Year award in 2023, is that partner. He establishes tempo and will be essential to Florida’s goals both this season and in the future. His ability to score has been evident, as seen by his early season high of 28 points against the Pittsburgh Panthers of the ACC. It seems that having Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino lead Iona for the past few years has paid dividends. Transitioning from a mid-major to a high-major, Clayton Jr. appears quite comfortable. Due to his NBA stature and professional style of play, Kugel may be the guy who draws the most attention, but Clayton Jr. is the head of the snake whose output will determine how far this Florida squad advances.
Other important players are Micah Handlogten, a 7-1 sophomore transfer from Marshall, and Zyon Pullin, a 6-4 graduate transfer. In his four years at UC Riverside, Pullin—a three-time All-Big West selection—scored over 1,300 points, and Handlogten—a versatile big man—was named the 2023 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.
