Florida head coach Todd Golden has his work cut out for him this offseason. Heading into his fourth season in Gainesville, the newly-crowned national champion needs to replace much of that title-winning roster including First-Team All-American point guard Walter Clayton Jr.
Along with Clayton, the rest of “the best backcourt in the country” as Golden called Clayton, Alijah Martin, and Will Richard after winning it all in San Antonio, are out of eligibility. Rising senior Denzel Aberdeen will be the lone mainstay in the backcourt, but his frontcourt could remain largely intact.
Starting center Rueben Chinyelu, bench forward and rising star Thomas Haugh, and backup center Micah Handlogten are all set to return. The only question mark is surrounding 6-foot-11 starting power forward Alex Condon who has declared for the NBA Draft and is projected by some to be a first-round selection.
Florida Gators forward Alex Condon declares for NBA Draft
The Australian averaged 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds as a sophomore and scored 12 points with seven rebounds and four steals in the National Championship Game win over Houston. He was an integral part of Florida’s offensive attack, often positioned as the decision-maker in Golden’s constant barrage of dribble hand-offs with his talented backcourt, or from the short-roll when defenses blitzed Clayton in the pick-and-roll.
While he’s weighing his options in professional basketball, Condon has maintained his eligibility and the option to return to Gainesville for his junior season. He is the 29th overall prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft class according to ESPN’s draft projections and went to the Los Angeles Clippers with the 49th pick in the latest mock draft from FanSided’s Christopher Kline.
Golden has to completely retool his backcourt around Aberdeen, who was effective off the bench and will be stepping into a much bigger role next season. However, if he can keep all four of his impactful forwards on the roster, the Gators will have a legitimate chance to defend their title, at least in the SEC.
If Golden leaves for the NBA, though, Florida’s frontcourt depth will be tested. After his remarkable NCAA Tournament run, Haugh appears poised to break out as a star, and 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux could be prepared to play meaningful minutes in his redshirt freshman year.