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NCAA Basketball: 10 early big winners from 2022 offseason

By Tristan Freeman

CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 11: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels plays against the Elon Phoenix at Dean E. Smith Center on December 11, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 63-80. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 11: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels plays against the Elon Phoenix at Dean E. Smith Center on December 11, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 63-80. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Basketall Todd Golden of the San Francisco Dons (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
NCAA Basketall Todd Golden of the San Francisco Dons (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

Florida Gators

It’s not easy going through a coaching change as a high-major program; especially if it happened suddenly as it did with the Gators after Mike White went to Georgia. But former San Francisco head coach and rising star Todd Golden has done a great job rebuilding the roster in the past few weeks.

The first move for Florida was landing Will Richard, a talented freshman from Belmont that averaged 14 ppg and 6.2 rpg. The 6’5 guard has a chance to be a star at the SEC level and was followed up with former top-50 wing prospect Alex Fudge from LSU and VMI double-digit scoring guard Trey Bonham.

The biggest name among the newcomers was recent pickup Kyle Lofton, a four-year starter at St. Bonaventure that averaged around 14 ppg and 5.5 apg. He’s a quality passer and defender who also can score 20 points in a given night and gives them a starting point guard in the SEC for next season.

All of that is great but most importantly, star center and All-SEC big man Collin Castleton is coming back for a 5th year. After the coaching change, he could’ve easily either gone pro and entered the NBA Draft but him coming back gives Coach Golden a star to build around. And looking at the incoming transfers, Florida could be looking at an NCAA Tournament appearance next March.

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