Florida Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Gators
By Joey Loose
Projected Starters
Guard – Walter Clayton Jr. (Junior)
Certainly a major addition from the Transfer Portal, Clayton comes to the Gators this year after two solid seasons with Rick Pitino at Iona. He put up 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 43% from outside the arc last year, earning him MAC Player of the Year honors. Life will be different in the SEC, but Clayton is an athletic and talented combo guard who will make waves from the beginning in Gainesville.
Guard – Riley Kugel (Sophomore)
A Top 100 recruit last season, Kugel made decent strides during his freshman year and even more is expected from him in year two. He averaged 9.9 points per game with decent shooting numbers across the board, though there’s room for improvement all over his game. He really came on strong in the latter half of last season and could become a star if he’s stronger and more consistent as a sophomore.
Guard – Will Richard (Junior)
Richard arrived in Gainesville last season after great numbers as a freshman at Belmont. He nearly matched that production as a starter in this backcourt, averaging 10.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while making just under 40% of his long-range attempts. His game looks strong and he had brilliant offensive numbers; expect an even brighter campaign if he gets more opportunities in this offense.
Forward – Tyrese Samuel (Senior)
Another addition to this year’s squad, Samuel comes to Florida after four years over at Seton Hall. He was a bench piece for the first three seasons but shined as a starter last year, averaging 11.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. The Gators expect Samuel to help fill the void after Castleton’s departure, while Samuel is certainly more of a force on the defensive end. He’ll get good minutes for the Gators and should be a valuable piece at power forward.
Center – Micah Handlogten (Sophomore)
A 7’1 center originally from North Carolina, Handlogten spent his freshman year at Marshall as a full-time starter for the Thundering Herd. He averaged 7.6 points and 9.8 rebounds, with significant contributions in the paint for a Marshall team that won 24 games. Now, he transitions into a more important role in the SEC with the Gators, hoping to continue as an efficient scorer and impactful rim defender.