Sam Alexis (4) was a third-team All-Southern Conference selection, as well as an all-league defender during his 2023-24 sophomore season at UT-Chattanooga. [USA Today Photo by Jamie Rhodes]
Harry Fodder: How Sam Alexis Fits In
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida basketball team entered the offseason down a couple big men from a front line quartet that helped the Gators win 24 games and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years. UF knew it would have to replenish half that foursome, at least.
One down, two to go. The Gators officially welcomed 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward SamAlexis, by way of Tennessee-Chattanooga, into the 2024-25 fold Monday. Alexis, who will arrive as a junior with two years of eligibility remaining, is ticketed for the UF front court rotation following the loss of 6-10 grad-transfer and All-Southeastern Conference forward Tyrese Samuel and the uncertainty surrounding 7-1 center Micah Handlogten, who is recovering from broken left leg suffered the final week of the season.
Alexis is coming home, which certainly was a built-in drawing card. He starred at Apopka (Fla.) High, where he was an All-Metro Conference and second-team All-Central Florida selection by The Orlando Sentinel. Alexis made the Southern Conference All-Freshman team as a collegiate rookie in '23 and was named to both the 2024 All-SoCon third-team and All-Defensive Team as a sophomore after averaging 10.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He had seven double-doubles on the season, with a season-high 26 points against Mercer.
Worth noting: Alexis was one of just four players in all of Division I to average at least 10 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and shoot 55 percent from the floor.
The UF staff, being the analytic-driven bunch it is, crunched those numbers even further and found a career 60.7-percent scorer from the 2-point area and a No. 94 national ranking in offensive rebounding percentage (12.0), which projected beautifully into what Todd Golden wants to do with his two-post, three-perimeter philosophy on that end of the floor. On the defensive end, where the Gators want to improve next season, Alexis was the nation's No. 43 rebounder (25.4 percent) and No. 37 shot-blocker (swatting away 8.6 percent of attempts taken when on the floor).
Sam Alexis (4) stuffed box scores with points, rebounds and blocks during his All-Southern Conference sophomore season.
Those numbers likely won't replicate in the SEC, but the Gators believe Alexis possesses characteristics that will convert nicely to the high-major level. Specifically, his athleticism, ability to run the floor, touch around the basket and overall feel for the game. In '23-24, Florida led the SEC in dunks with 150, including a team-high 61 by Samuel. What screen-and-roll, rim-running "big" doesn't want to play in an offense that oftens ends possessions in flashy, highlight-reel finishes?
Sam Alexis
Alexis, who won't turn 20 until October, may not be Samuel yet (though, like Samuel, he does need work on his free-throw shooting at just 51 percent for his career), he'll will get a chance to slip into something akin to that role. So, of course, will returning 6-11 sophomore Alex Condon, who made the league's All-Freshman Team coming off the bench and gave the Gators a high-energy 20 minutes, 7.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Condon, with the loss of Samuel's 13.9 points and 7.9 rebounds, is expected to improve on his rookie numbers in an increased role next season. His work ethic combined with what he put on tape last season suggests big things are ahead for the big Australian. Golden would be thrilled to get Condon-like first-year numbers from Alexis, but who knows? Maybe Alexis, with an offseason in the UF strength-and-conditioning program, will position himself to do even better than expected.
Whatever the case, Florida has four more scholarships to fill and at least one of them is ticketed for another big.
For now, the Gators feel awfully good about the first one in the house.
