The UF men's basketball team tips off fall practice Tuesday.
Harry Fodder: 2024-25 Preseason Basketball Primer
Thursday, September 19, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – So here we are again, nudging our way toward the start of the college basketball season, the preparation for which actually began way back in April when new guys arrived and former players bolted.
But this season – this Florida basketball team – has a different feel.
A year ago, Todd Golden executed a major overhaul of the roster after his first turn on the UF sidelines netted the program's second losing campaign since 1999. Nine rotation players exited; three after their eligibility expired and six more via the transfer portal. They were replaced by a combination of three standout transfers and a couple impact freshmen who along with a pair of key holdovers combined to produce a 24-12 record and the first NCAA Tournament berth in three years. The most victories by a UF team since 2017 – along with the first trip to the Southeastern Conference Tournament title game in a decade – validated Golden and his staff's plan to rebuild.
Consider what the Gators have put together for 2024-25 as the next phase. A better one, too.
When Florida officially opens preseason practice Tuesday, the team will do so with five rotational players back to go with the addition of a trio of impact transfers, all of whom have been in the Hugh Hathcock Basketball Complex the last five months building chemistry with their new teammates. There will be competition among some mostly inexperienced players for limited-minute roles on the back of what figures to be a rotation of (says Golden's track record) nine players by the time SEC season comes around.
The first eight in that rotation is set – four in the front court, four on the perimeter – and they're very good players (some all-league types). Collectively, the 12 available scholarship players and quartet of walk-ons have combined to produce a fiercely competitive day-to-day environment. That's an ideal baseline from which to begin.
The optimism about the program is not just in-house. Florida is expected to be in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 when it's released next month after debuting at No. 18 in The 2024-25 Blue Ribbon Handbook earlier this month. Word is out that Golden has it going.
The below role projections are based on observations from summer workouts, individual instruction sessions and (oftentimes intense) pickup games. They are, of course, subject to change (I've had a few misses in this role-prediction space over the years), given the length of the season and developments along the way. But the '24-25 Gators appear already to have forged an identity that will roll seamlessly into Golden's three-out offensive blueprint and goal to make huge strides on defense.
The '24-25 season opens Nov. 4 against South Florida at Jacksonville.
Walter Clayton Jr. was second-team All-SEC in 2024.
When we last saw Clayton, he put the Gators on his back by scoring 16 consecutive points and rallying UF from 13 down with less than four minutes to go, hitting the game-tying 3-pointer with six seconds left in the first-round NCAA Tournament against Colorado, a game the Buffaloes won at the buzzer. It was a heart-breaking finish to the season, but a launching point for both Clayton (who will be one of the SEC's biggest stars in '24-25) and the team's new-found emphasis on defense (UF lost 102-100, at one point allowing 63 percent, including 11 consecutive makes in the second half). The '24-25 Gators begin and end with Clayton, who will not only be the focal point of the offense but the initiator as the so-called point guard, as much as this team will actually have one. Clayton instantly took on an alpha persona last year when he arrived with much fanfare from Iona and went on to tick all the expectation boxes on his way to averaging 17.6 points per game (the most by a Gator in 20 years) on 43.2-percent shooting from the floor, 36.5 from the 3-point line and 87.7 at the free-throw line. Clayton, one of the most talented scorers in the league, has the means to improve on those numbers, but will have to do so with the added responsibility of taking over the point guard spot vacated by All-SEC first-teamer Zyon Pullin. Clayton does a lot of things well, but facilitating (93 assists, 80 turnovers last season) is not his strength. That's not to say he can't do it, evidenced by the 103 assists to 57 turnovers as a sophomore at Iona. The Gators, though, have an offensive plan that won't require a ball-dominant player the way Pullin was used, but rather a system that will play fast (get a shot -- or at least be in scoring position -- within six seconds) or try to ball-screen defenses to death in the halfcourt. As for the defensive end, Clayton got the message during his flirtation with the NBA evaluation process last spring that he needs to make a jump on that end. His motivation to do so showed up on the floor and in his conditioning. He's looked great to date.
Will Richard (5) finished third on the team in scoring last season at 11.4 points per game.
Check out Richard's scoring and rebounding numbers from his first two seasons and they practically mirrored each other: 10.4 points and 4.5 rebounds as a sophomore; 11.4 points, 3.9 rebounds as a junior. Like his day-to-day approach and demeanor, they show consistency, right? Richard, though, didn't see things that way in '23-24; not after posting offensive efficiency numbers among the top five percent in the country as a UF rookie. His 49.3-percent overall shooting and 39.8 from the 3-point line for the '22-23 season (which increased to 50.4 and 41.6, respectively vs. SEC) dipped to 41.1 overall and 34.5 in '23-24 (37.1 percent and 29.4 in league play). Richard, like Clayton, went through the NBA eval process and returned to the team determined to become a more consistent shooter, but also with a newfound commitment to his defense and rebounding, evidenced by his work in the weight room. Richard, for the third straight year, won all the offseason shooting competitions and has had a handful of blistering, unconscious stretches during pick-up games, further cementing his starting spot at the "3." Richard does not, however, just want to be known as a shooter. His minutes increased last season, leaving him on the floor for nearly 30 a game. A deeper, better, more well-rounded roster may allow Richard to trim some of those minutes and thus have his legs fresher for late in games (and late in the season).
The last time UF had post player who combined this kind of size, athleticism and defensive desire his name was Patric Young. That was 10 years ago. Chinyelu, the sophomore transfer from Washington State, has elements to his game Young did not have, starting with his length and quick twitch. Whereas Young, the 2014 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, packed his Adonis-like 250-pound body into a 6-9 frame, Chinyelu is a longer 6-10½ and 255 pounds, with an insane 7-8 wingspan and motor that is constantly revved. And whereas Young's bulk made his movements appear more robotic, Chinyelu has a live athletic body that can bounce and really get up and down the floor. The Gators would love for Chinyelu to show his wares all day (all game, rather), but his penchant for foul trouble – this is one physical and hard-playing dude – put limits on his productivity at WSU, where as a 13.9 minutes-per-game backup he averaged 4.7 points on nearly 62 percent from the floor (with zero 3-point attempts) to go with 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. The fouling has shown up in live action here, such that it's become a major point of emphasis between the staff and Chinyelu, so stay tuned on that front. His offensive game is raw and will be a big step back from the creative, shot-making of his "5" spot, All-SEC predecessor Tyrese Samuel (13.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 56.4 percent from the floor). But the ferocious nature with which Chinyelu competes on every possession rivals that of his two new front court classmates,Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh (more on them below), both of whom made big-time freshman splashes for the Gators with play-hard calling cards. UF finished eighth in the nation in offensive rebounding percentage last season (37.3). The Gators believe they will be better at it this season. They definitely will if Chinyelu can reduce his hacking and stay on the floor. If so, they'll also have a chance to be special on defense.
The Gators believe Alijah Martin's defensive tenacity will be contagious.
Florida Atlantic doesn't give college basketball one of the greatest Cinderella stories in NCAA Tournament history without Martin, the 6-2, 210-pound grad-transfer and do-it-all guard. Martin certainly did it all for the Owls over his four seasons in Boca Raton, with his Covid freshman year granting him a fifth and thus giving the Gators something they did not have on the perimeter last season: a blood-thirsty, physical hyena on the defensive end. Martin immediately makes UF better on that end, thus keeping with Golden's goal for '24-25 (improving that No. 94 defense). He's hardly one dimensional, as a resume as a standout football player and track star in Mississippi suggests. Martin is built like a high-major safety, but moves, runs and jumps like the basketball player who totaled 1,476 points, 616 rebounds and 242 3-pointers over four seasons in Conference USA. The last three seasons, in starting 84 of FAU's 103 games, Martin averaged 13.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and shot 37 percent from deep. Over the past two, he had some of the most productive games of his career against FAU's best opponents, including a game-high 26 in the national semifinals against NCAA runner-up San Diego State and a season-best 26 last year against Texas A&M. Martin has a track record for consistency against whoever he plays against and came to UF to do it against high-major opponents night in and out. And, like Clayton, he has no problem speaking up when something needs to be addressed. He'll start at the "2" spot and basically step into a shooting guard role the Gators once envisioned for Riley Kugel (now at Mississippi State). The Gators, though, will know what they're getting with Martin day in and day out. Especially with his motor and defense.
As a freshman, Alex Condon (21) blocked at least three shots in a game seven times, including a season-best five at Texas A&M.
Quick, name the last UF "big" who had a freshman impact like the 6-11, 230-pounder known as "Condo." You better go back a long way (like maybe to Al Horford), considering Condon averaged 7.7 points, finished ninth in the SEC in rebounding at 6.4 per game over his 20.3 minutes and was named to the Freshman All-SEC team. That honor didn't come just because of stats, however. The Australian with the rugby-esque Down Under brand of football background earned it because conference coaches recognized how much Condon impacted the game off the bench with his competitiveness, fearlessness in the post and high-energy defense that allowed him to block at least one shot in 21 games. Well, get ready for a better version of the same fighter, after he spent a few weeks during the offseason back home representing the NBA Global Academy and training with the Australian National Team. Condon has worked both to hone and expand his low-post game and has demonstrated a much better touch from the 3-point line, where he shot 29.8 percent on 38 attempts last season. With Condon alongside Chinyelu in the starting front court, the Gators will pair two of the most active, mobile and fastest bigs in the league, which should make them – again – one of the best rebounding teams in the country. And here's the best thing: They're others up front that play that way, too (read on).
Denzel Aberdeen (11)was one of the team's best dunkers as a freshman and sophomore, but has worked himself into one of their best players.
Given the current climate of college athletics, no one would have blamed Aberdeen, the 6-5, 190-pound junior, had he gone looking for a bigger role elsewhere, what with Clayton back and the addition of Martin. He would have had plenty of suitors, too. But Aberdeen listened to the UF coaches' pitch and vision for his third season and was all in for a return. The Gators love his attitude, work ethic, team-first mentality and – after watching Aberdeen blossom the second half of the season – his potential as the third guard. One of the best athletes on the team, Aberdeen averaged just 3.3 points last season, but started figuring things out in February and put his wares on display by scoring a career-high 20 points on six of nine shooting and 4-for-5 from distance to go with four steals in a huge win over Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament. Something clicked with Aberdeen's confidence (on both ends) last spring and, in turn, Golden's confidence in him. As the closest thing to a true point guard on the roster, he could carve out a unique and important niche in the rotation. And if he performs in '24-25 the way he has in live action this offseason, "Zel" will be a major factor; and possibly on the floor in crunch time.
Sophomore forward Thomas Haugh (10) will be one of the fastest, move active forwards in the SEC this season.
Last season, the Gators had Richard as their lone true "3" man they could rely on a consistent basis. Kugel never could provide that. Julian Rishwain, now at Nevada-Las Vegas, might have been that guy, but was never healthy. Well, here comes Haugh, who burst on the scene as a freshman last season and played the "4" spot like Condon played the "5." As in with flailing and relentless energy. The 6-9 Haugh averaged 3.9 points and 3.7 rebounds over his 14.7 minutes, but had some highlight-reel moments, like his 17 points (on 3-for-4 from deep) and seven boards in a road win at Georgia. Each game, though, Haugh proved his worth on the defensive end, finishing with 25 blocks (fourth on the team) and 11 steals in his limited role, while showing he could guard four positions. Now comes a much, much larger – and expanded – role for Haugh. His length, athleticism and ability to sprint the floor still will be summoned up front, but he'll get a chance to show his game on the wing. How much he plays out there likely will depend on improving his 25.5-percent shooting from the arc (12 of 47 last season). Whether that's his future spot – notice his Chandler Parsons-like game – may not matter relative to UF '24-25 so much because Haugh is going to play a lot (somewhere) this season; certainly a bunch at the "4." And if the UF lineup does, at some point, include Chinyelu, Condon and Haugh on the floor at the same time? Well, that will make UF assistant and defensive coordinator John Andrzejek very happy.
When Alexis reported for duty last spring he looked like a player, despite his resume of averaging nearly a double-double last season at Tennessee-Chattanooga, who needed to put in some work on the conditioning front. He was and he has. No one on the squad has reshaped his physique better than the 6-8, 240-pounder from Apopka, Fla., and that definitely showed during the recent "beep" conditioning test when Alexis finished a surprising/impressive third among the group of bigs. ... [Timeout for a shoutout to Victor Lopez, the team's strength/conditioning coordinator, who's done some tremendous work with this squad in the weight room.] ... Alexis already had the best all-around skill set of his position group, as far as hands, feet, shooting stroke and bounce, so his reshaped physique will only make Alexis more valuable. At UTC, he played 26-plus minutes and averaged 10.8 points and 9.1 rebounds as a sophomore on 55-percent shooting, but just 48.4 from the free-throw line (versus 57.1 as a freshman). Alexis had a 17-rebound game and seven outings with at least four blocks. He gives the Gators – and Golden, who loves his bigs – a quartet of rangy and talented dudes to mix and match in the front court. What a luxury.
Sophomore Kajus Kublickas spent most of his summer honing his game in Lithuania.
External expectations for Kublickas probably aren't very high after the Lithuanian point guard played just 36 minutes, totaled seven points and four assists against four turnovers in nine games as a '23-24 freshman. The 6-2, 171-pounder could've flirted with the portal, but instead went to his exit interview last spring and asked the coaches only for a chance to compete for a spot in the rotation. Request granted. After that, Kublickas returned this summer to Lithuania, where he played for his country's U20 EuroBasket squad and put up some decent digits in averaging 11.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists. While he arrived late last summer, Kublickas picked things up quickly and earned praise from the staff for his scout-team role. He came back a more polished and confident player hungry for minutes. Don't underestimated Kublickas's internal expectations.
The Gators signed Brown, a four-star prospect on several recruiting sites, last fall. Four months later he led Orlando Christian Prep to the Class 2A state title game and averaged a team-best 18.6 points, then represented Puerto Rico in the 2024 FIBA AmeriCup, averaging 8.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in five games. Brown, at 6-4 and 200 pounds, is a baby on the roster, but his teammates (and coaches) are high on their new and popular little brother with the soft, left-handed stroke from the outside and sneaky athleticism that shows up (sometimes with dunks in traffic) in pick-up games. Brown, who goes by "Zay," wears his upbeat attitude with a smile that is there every day. He, like Kublickas, will have a chance in the preseason and non-conference games to have a say in who that fifth guard (and ninth man) will be.
Newly arrived freshman guard Urban Klavzar has a sneaky good explosiveness off the floor.
Golden had his eye on Klavzar, a crafty 6-1, 190-pound combo guard from Slovenia, for a couple years. He signed in July, then made good on UF's evaluations with stellar play in the EuroBasketball U20 Tournament in August, when he helped guide his team to a silver medal by averaging team-bests of 16.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 38.3 percent from deep. Klavzar didn't get to campus until the week before fall classes began, so he's had to learn a lot on the fly, but seems to have weathered any wake-up call in dealing with SEC athleticism. The Gators like his upside as a creative scorer, but what he's shown most so far is the outside shooting touch (44 percent from the arc) he demonstrated during his one season playing with pros last year. In transition, Klavzar finds the open space, his new teammates know to look for him, and he makes shots.
His path to the Gators was not unlike another Golden international import. Two years ago, Aleks Szymczyk was a '22 late-summer arrival from Germany. Mikic was a '24 mid-summer addition from Serbia, with the hope that he can be a reliable practice and scout team player in the front court. That was the plan for "Shimmy," but he was forced into action by the season-ending injury to Colin Castleton as a freshman, then basically sidelined all last season with foot injuries. Szymczyk transferred to Charlotte in the spring and the Gators went looking for size to replace him. Mikic averaged 14.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks at Chattanooga (Tenn.) Hamilton Heights last season, but is a ways from being ready to compete for playing time with UF's top four bigs. For now, he needs to focus on development, but more importantly -- for '24-25 -- step into the front court fray at practice and bang with Chinyelu and Condon, so they don't have to bang so much on each other. Hey, someone has to do it and at 6-11, 240, Mikic is that guy. He's also a shown to be a pretty good and creative passer from both the high and low post.
Micah Handlogten (left), at 7-1, will be one of the Gators' biggest supporters (literally) this season, as he rehabs back from a broken left leg.
He started all but one game in '23-24, but Handlogten's season ended and in horrific fashion when he suffered a compound fracture less than two minutes into the Gators' game against Auburn in the SEC Tournament final. The injury, first, was an emotional blow to the team, which never really rebounded that day and ultimately got blown out by the Tigers. Handlogten, who averaged 5.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and was one of the nation's best players on the offensive glass, would have made a difference in the NCAA Tournament, providing the team another big and his usual 19-plus minutes. Instead, he underwent surgery the day of the injury, will sit out the season as a medical redshirt, use the next few months to finish rehabbing, get stronger, work on his skills and return for '24-25 with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Handlogten should be cleared in the next couple months for practice and join the scout team full-go.
THE WALK-ONS
Freshman 7-9 center Olivier Riouxwill be a giant (again, literally) project in '24-25.
The last few seasons, late-game UF blowouts at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center invariably led to chants of "We Want Klat-sky," with the Rowdy Reptiles pining for an appearance from popular walk-onAlex Klatsky. He's gone. So is Jack May, another fan fave. But the Rowdies, no doubt, will make Olivier Rioux, at 7-9 the tallest player in college basketball, their new walk-on of choice (and chant). Rioux, from Montreal by way of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, is a project and could be ticketed for a developmental redshirt year, so any cameo appearances remain to be seen. He'll be joined at the end of the bench by fifth-yearBennett Andersen and sophomore Cooper Josefsberg, both returnees, as well as newcomer Kevin Pazmino, a cross-town transfer guard from Santa Fe College, all of whom will play pivotal scout-team roles (and provide in-game energy on the bench) throughout the season.
A year ago, Todd Golden executed a major overhaul of the roster after his first turn on the UF sidelines netted the program's second losing campaign since 1999. Nine rotation players exited; three after their eligibility expired and six more via the transfer portal. They were replaced by a combination of three standout transfers and a couple impact freshmen who along with a pair of key holdovers combined to produce a 24-12 record and the first NCAA Tournament berth in three years. The most victories by a UF team since 2017 – along with the first trip to the Southeastern Conference Tournament title game in a decade – validated Golden and his staff's plan to rebuild.
