A domino falls in Florida's favor! Alex Condon returns for his senior season

(Photo by Chris Spears)

That wasn’t a hurricane-force gust of wind felt as far north as Atlanta and as far south as Miami. It was the exhale of Florida basketball coach Todd Golden now that Alex Condon has decided to return for a senior season with the Gators rather than declare for the NBA Draft.

Twice an All-SEC second team selection, Condon (6-11, 236) was considered a borderline first round selection. Most of the pre-draft evaluations ranked him somewhere between 34-38 as a prospect. Given that NBA second rounders rarely get multi-year contracts and make the NBA rookie minimum, Condon made what most will consider a very wise decision. In coming back, he gets another year to work with Florida associate head coach Carlin Hartman, who is one of the best in the entire country at developing big men, plus he gets another shot at a second NCAA championship because Florida’s roster next season is going to be loaded.

By returning, Condon also gets another year to work on developing a reasonably consistent jump shot. He’s very good around the rim and in the second half of last season showed a lethal floater from inside eight feet. He needs to extend his range to the foul line at least. If he could hit an occasional three, that would be like icing on the cake.

A native of Perth, Australia, Condon has started two of his three seasons at Florida. Coming off the bench as a freshman, he averaged 7.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while being selected to the SEC all-freshman team. During Florida’s run to the 2025 NCAA championship, he improved to 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while making second team All-SEC.

There is a lasting image of Condon that etched his name forever in Gator basketball lore. On the final play of the 2025 NCAA championship game with Houston, Emmanuel Sharpe dropped the basketball on the court when Walter Clayton Jr. came flying by, preventing him from taking what might have been a game-winning 3-pointer. With the ball rolling on the court, Condon sprinted past Joseph Tugler to corral the loose ball, sealing Florida’s 65-63 win over the Cougars.

This past season, his numbers improved to 15.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He finished second in the SEC in field goal percentage (55.6 percent), fourth in rebounds, 12^th in assists and eighth in blocked shots.

From February onward, Condon was the best and most consistent big man in the SEC, averaging 17.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.

Condon is a member of Florida’s 1,000-point club (1,181). Already with 762 rebounds, he should become one of three Gators with more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds for a career. Neal Walk (1,600 points/1184 rebounds) and Eugene McDowell (1,565 points/1,063) are the other two.

Condon is the first domino to fall in Golden’s roster reconstruction for next season. He awaits a final decision from Rueben Chinyelu, the national defensive player of the year. Chinyelu (6-11, 265) is expected to forego the NBA to return for his senior season. Like Condon he’s projected as a second round, and, like Condon, stands to make more NIL money at Florida than he would as an NBA second rounder.

The other domino is Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215), who is projected as an NBA lottery selection. Most evaluations have him going somewhere between 12 and 16. ESPN ranks him as the 13^th-ranked draft prospect while CBS ranks him No. 12.

Most of the too early top 25s have the Gators solidly in the top three, but with Condon and Chinyelu, the Gators might elevate to the No. 1 position. If Haugh joins, then it would be the upset of the century if the Gators aren’t the top ranked preseason team.

Florida currently has 10 returning players (Chinyelu counted), one freshman signee and Denzel Aberdeen returning to the Gators from the portal after a one-year hiatus to Kentucky. That leaves three available scholarships of which Golden is likely to bring in two from the portal and one international.

Currently, the Gators are one of the favorites to land Iowa State sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic (6-8, 225, JR), who shot an amazing 48.7 percent from the 3-point line last season.  

Here is where the Florida roster stands today:

Seniors/graduated (1): Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185)

NBA expected (1): Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR)

Portal (2): Olivier Rioux (7-9, 305, RFR); Micah Handlogten (7-1, 260)

Returning (10): Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Urban Klavzar (6-1, 195, JR); AJ Brown (6-5, 210, RJR); Alex Kovatchev (6-5, 195, RSO); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Isaiah Brown (6-5, 210, SO); Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260, SO); CJ Ingram (6-7, 210, FR); Alex Lloyd (6-4, 180, FR)

Signed (1): Jones Lay (7-0, 230)

From the portal (1): Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR, from Kentucky)

THE REST OF THE SEC

Alabama

Seniors (3): Latrell Wrightsell (6-3, 189); Houston Mallette (6-5, 185); Noah Williamson (7-0, 244)

NBA (2): Labaron Philon (6-4, 177, SO); Amari Allen (6-7, 205, FR)

Legal issues (1): Aden Holloway (6-1, 178, JR)

Portal (3):  Taylor Bol Bowen (6-10, 195, JR); Aiden Sherrell (6-10, 240, SO, to Indiana); Jalil Bethea (6-5, 190, SO, to Pittsburgh)

Returning (5): London Jemison (6-8, 205, FR); Keitenn Bristow (6-8, 190, SO); Davion Hannah (6-6, 190, FR); Preston Murphy (6-1, 175, JR); Collins Onyejiaka (6-11, 265, FR)

Signed (3): Tarris Bouie (6-4, 175); Quayden Samuels (6-6, 200); Jaxson Richardson (6-6, 200)

From the portal (2): Brandon Garrison (6-11, 245, JR, from Kentucky); Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-10, 240, FR, from Mississippi State)

Arkansas

Seniors (2): Nick Pringle (6-9, 220); Trevon Brazille (6-9, 215)

NBA (2): Darius Acuff Jr. (6-3, 190, FR); Meleek Thomas (6-5, 185, FR)

Portal (4): Karter Knox (6-6, 211, SO, to Louisville); DJ Wagner (6-3, 175, JR); Kaim Rtail (6-7, 205, FR); Elmir Dzafic (7-0, 285, FR)

Returning (5): Maliq Ewin (6-10, 220, JR); Billy Richmond (6-5, 205, SO); Jaden Karuletwa (6-5, 185, SO); Isaiah Sealy (6-7, 200, FR); Paulo Semedo (7-1, 225, FR)

Signed (3): Jordan Smith Jr. (6-2, 180); JaShawn Andrews (6-4, 195); Abdou Toure (6-6, 200)

From the portal: Cooper Bowser (6-11, 210, JR, from Furman); Jeremiah Wilkinson (6-1, 185, SO, from Georgia)

Auburn

Seniors (2): Keyshawn Hall (6-7, 250); Keyshawn Murphy (6-10, 245)

Portal (4): Filip Jovic (6-8, 225, FR, to UCLA); Kaden Magwood (6-2, 175, FR); Elyjah Freeman (6-8, 185, SO); Abdul Bashir (6-7, 195, JR)

Returning (5): Kevin Overton (6-5, 180, JR); Tahaad Pettiford (6-1, 175, SO); Emeka Opurum (7-0, 205, SO); Sebastian Williams-Adams (6-8, 230, FR); Simon Walker (6-4, 195, FR)

Signed (2): Caleb Williams (6-5, 195); Narcisse Ngoy (6-11, 220)

Georgia

Seniors (2): Justin Bailey (6-3, 195); Justin Abson (6-9, 235)

Portal (6): Jeremiah Wilkinson (6-1, 185, SO, to Arkansas); Dylan James (6-9, 235, JR); Somto Cyril (6-11, 260, SO, to Miami); Jackson McVey (7-1, 240, FR); Jordan Ross (6-3, 175, JR); Jake Wilkins (6-9, 185, FR, to California)

Returning (4): Blue Cain (6-5, 190, JR); Marcus Millender (5-11, 180, JR); Kanon Catchings (6-9, 190, SO); Kareem Stagg (6-8, 230, FR)

Kentucky

Seniors (1): Otega Oweh (6-5, 210)

NBA (2): Jayden Quaintance (6-9, 225, SO); Malachi Moreno (7-0, 250, FR)

Portal (7): Jaland Lowe (6-2, 170, JR, to Georgetown); Brandon Garrison (6-11, 245, JR, to Alabama); Jasper Johnson (6-5, 180, FR); Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7, 215, JR); Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR, to FLORIDA); Andrija Jelavic (6-11, 225, FR, to Ohio State); Collin Chandler (6-5, 202, SO, to BYU)

Returning (4): Reece Potter (7-1, 210, JR); Kam Williams (6-8, 190, SO); Trent Noah (6-5, 220, SO); Brayden Hawthorne (6-8, 190, FR)

Signed (1): Mason Williams (6-2, 185)

From the portal (1): Zoom Diallo (6-3, 190, SO, from Washington)

LSU

Seniors (5): Max Mackinnon (6-5, 205); Marquel Sutton (6-7, 205); Pablo Tamba (6-6, 210); Rashad King (6-6, 198); PJ Carter (6-5, 175)

Portal (8): Dedan Thomas Jr. (6-1, 178, JR, to Houston); Jalen Reed (6-10, 230, SR); Mazi Mosley (6-5, 169, FR); Matt Gilhool (6-11, 213, FR, to Kansas State); Ron Zipper (6-5, 209, FR); Marcus Vaughns (6-8, 221, FR, to Arizona State); Mike Nwoko (6-10, 245, JR, to Xavier); Robert Miller III (6-10, 220, JR)

Returning (1): Jalen Reece (6-0, 185, FR)

Signed (2): Kevin Thomas (6-6, 195); Herly Brutus (6-5, 180)

Mississippi State

Seniors (3): Jayden Epps (6-2, 190); Ja’Borri McGhee (6-0, 200); Quincy Ballard (6-11, 240)

Portal (6): Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-10, 240, FR, to Alabama); Dellquan Waren (6-1, 160, FR); Sergej Macura (6-9, 220, FR, to UCLA); Amier Ali (6-8, 185, SO); Brandon Walker (6-8, 255, SR); Achor Achor (6-9, 222, SR)

Returning (5): Josh Hubbard (5-10, 185, JR); Gai Chol (6-11, 245, JR); King Grace (6-5, 195, FR); Cameren Paul (6-7, 210, FR); Tee Bartlett (6-11, 290, FR)

Signed (3): Tristan Reed (6-9, 230); Jalyn Collingwood (6-5, 190); Willie Burnett III (6-4, 175)

From the portal (1): RJ Johnson (6-4, 225, SO, from Kennesaw State)

Missouri

Seniors (5): Mark Mitchell (6-8, 220); Jayden Stone (6-4, 180); Shawn Phillips (7-0, 245); Jevon Porter (6-11, 220)

Portal (3): Anthony Robinson II (6-2, 175, JR); Sebastian Mack (6-3, 195, JR); T.O. Barrett (6-4, 200, SO); Jacob Crews (6-7, 210)

Returning (6): Trent Pierce (6-10, 210, JR); Luke Norweather (6-11, 232, JR); Trent Burns (7-5, 235, SO); Annor Boateng (6-6, 215, SO); Nicholas Randall (6-9, 240, FR); Aaron Rowe (6-2, 155, FR)

Signed (3): Jason Crowe Jr. (6-3, 170); Aidan Chronister (6-7, 180); Toni Bryant (6-9, 215)

From the portal: Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, JR, from Tennessee); Jamier Jones (6-6, 218, FR, from Providence)

Oklahoma

Seniors (5): Nijel Pack (6-0, 180); Tae Davis (6-9, 204); Mohamed Wague (6-10, 225); Jadon Jones (6-5, 190); Kirill Elatontsev (6-11, 240)

Portal (4): Andreas Holst (7-0, 200, FR); Kuol Atak (6-9, 190, FR, to Virginia Tech); Jake Hansen (6-0, 170, FR); Jeff Nwankwo (6-6, 220, SR, to Youngstown State)

Returning (5): Xzayvier Brown (6-2, 165, JR); Dayton Forsythe (6-2, 187, SO); Derrion Reed (6-8, 220, SO); Kai Rogers (6-10, 247, FR); Alec Blair (6-7, 192, FR)

Signed (1): Gage Mayfield (6-7, 200)

From the portal: Khani Rooths (6-8, 205, SO, from Louisville)

Ole Miss

Seniors (3): AJ Storr (6-6, 200); Malik Dia (6-9, 240); Kezza Giffa (6-2, 165)

Portal (8): Eduardo Klafke (6-5, 190, SO, to Butler); Ilias Kamardine (6-5, 185, JR); Hobert Grayson IV (6-4, 205, SR); Corey Chest (6-8, 210, RSO); Koren Johnson (6-2, 175, RJR); Augusto Cassia (6-8, 220, JR); Tylis Jordan (6-9, 215, FR, to Georgia Tech); Travis Perry (6-1, 188, SO)

Returning (3): James Scott (6-11, 210, JR); Patton Pinkins (6-5, 200, FR); Niko Bundalo (6-10, 215, FR)

Signed (1): Yohance Connor (6-2, 170)

From the portal (1): Roman Siulepa (6-6, 220, FR, from Pittsburgh)

South Carolina

Seniors (5): Meechie Johnson (6-2, 175); Mike Sharavjamts (6-8, 180); Kobe Knox (6-5, 185); Myles Stute (6-7, 215, SR); Nordin Kapic (6-8, 245)

Portal (7): Eli Ellis (6-0, 192, FR); Elijah Strong (6-8, 225, JR); EJ Walker (6-7, 253, FR); Jordan Butler (7-0, 240, JR); Christ Essandoko (7-0, 285, RJR); Abu Yarmah (6-6, 209, FR); Cam Scott (6-6, 170, RFR)

Returning (2): Grant Polk (6-6, 197, FR); Hayden Assemian (6-6, 230, FR)

Signed (1): Marcus Johnson (6-2, 180)

From the portal (1): Kory Mincy (6-2, 185, JR, from George Mason)

Tennessee

Seniors (3): Ja’Kobi (6-0, 175); Felix Okpara (6-11, 220); Amaree Abram (6-4, 190)

NBA (1): Nate Ament (6-10, 205, FR)

Portal (7): Cade Phillips (6-9, 212, JR); Clarence Massamba (6-5, 192, FR); JP Estrella (6-11, 241, RSO, to Michigan); Bishop Boswell (6-4, 203, SO, to Maryland); Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, JR, to Missouri); Troy Henderson (6-1, 186, FR); Amari Evans (6-5, 220, FR)

Returning (2): Ethan Burg (6-3, 199, SO); DeWayne Brown II (6-8, 251, FR)

Signed (3): Ralph Scott (6-8, 195); Manny Green (6-6, 205); Marquis Clark (6-1, 175)

From the portal (4): Tyler Lundblade (6-5, 195, SR, from Belmont); Dai Dai Ames (6-1, 185, JR, from California); Miles Rubin (6-10, 205, JR, from Loyola Chicago); Jalan Haralson (6-7, 220, FR, from Notre Dame)

Texas

Seniors (4): Tramon Mark (6-5, 190); Jordan Pope (6-2, 165); Chendall Weaver (6-3, 164); Lassina Traore (6-9, 215)

NBA (1): Dailyn Swain (6-7, 200, JR)

Portal (4): Nic Codie (6-8, 200, SO); Simeon Wilcher (6-4, 180, JR, to Seton Hall); Camden Heide (6-7, 205, JR); Declan Duru Jr. (6-8, 235, FR)

Returning (4): Matas Vokietaitis (7-0, 245, SO); Anthon McDermott (6-4, 200, FR); John Clark (6-8, 200, FR); Lewis Obiorah (7-0, 250, FR)

Signed (4): Austin Goosby (6-5, 186); Bo Ogden (6-5, 195); Joe Sterling (6-4, 180); Coleman Elkins (6-10, 240)

From the portal (2): Isaiah Johnson (6-1, 170, FR, from Colorado); David Punch (6-7, 245, SO, from TCU)

Texas A&M

Seniors (7): Rashaun Agee (6-7, 210); Rylan Griffen (6-5, 180); Marcus Hill (6-4, 185); Zach Clemente (6-10, 225); Jacari Lane (6-0, 178); Federiko Federiko (6-11, 220); Ali Abdou Dibba (6-5, 185)

Portal (3): Josh Holloway (6-1, 178, JR); Pop Isaacs (6-2, 170); Ruben Dominguez (6-6, 213, FR, to Xavier)

Returning (4): McKenzie Mgbako (6-8, 217, JR); Jamie Vinson (6-11, 225, SO); Chris McDermott (6-7, 225, SO); Jeremiah Green (6-3, 189, FR)

Signed (1): Josh Irving (6-10, 200)

From the portal (1): PJ Hagerty (6-3, 192, JR, from Kansas State)

Vanderbilt

Seniors (5): Duke Miles (6-2, 175); Tyler Nickel (6-7, 200); AK Okereke (6-7, 220); Devin McGlockton (6-7, 220); Jalen Washington (6-10, 225);  

Portal (6): Frankie Collins (6-1, 185, SR); Jaylon Dean-Vines (6-4, 181, FR); Tyler Harris (6-8, 190, JR); George Kimble III (6-2, 184, SO); Mike James (6-5, 198, RSR); Mason Nicholson (6-10, 280, SR) 

Returning (4): Tyler Tanner (6-0, 170, SO); Chandler Bing (6-5, 211, FR); Jayden Leverett (6-11, 245, FR); Jaylon Dean-Vines (6-4, 181, FR)

Signed (3): Ethan Mgbako (6-6, 215); Anthony Brown (6-1, 160); Jackson Sheffield (6-9, 240)