Another piece of the puzzle: Golden lands Artuas Butakevas from Lithuania

Aortas Butajevas (UAA Photo)

Already a master at the art of roster construction, Todd Golden added another strong piece to the 2026-27 puzzle Monday when he signed Lithuanian big man Arturas Butajevas (6-10, 220), who spent the past season playing for Unicas Malaga in Spain where he averaged 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds for the under-22 team.

Butajevas is a 19-year-old who has plenty of international experience from playing with the Lithuanian national team both on the European and world stage. At the FIBA under-18 EuroBasket in 2025, he averaged 13.9 points and 9.3 rebounds. At the 2024 FIBA under-17 World Cup, he averaged 14.4 points and 11.3 rebounds. At the 2023 FIBA under-16 European championships he averaged 15.6 points and 9.9 rebounds.

Adding Butajevas leaves Golden with one scholarship at his disposal, which he can use either on a transfer or another international player. The Gators haven’t been ruled out completely for Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic although that seems less likely. Among the international players who supposedly have had contact with the Gators are Domen Petrovic (6-9, 220, from Slovenia); Sergio DeLarrea (6-6, 180, from Spain); and Noa Kouakoe-Heugue (6-10, 207, from France via the Perth Wildcats in the Australian league).

ESPN Too Early Top 25 for 2026-27: 1. FLORIDA; 2. Duke; 3. Michigan; 4. Illinois; 5. UConn; 6. Arkansas; 7. Texas; 8. Alabama; 9. Michigan State; 10. Arizona; 11. Tennessee; 12. Houston; 13. Vanderbilt; 14. Southern California; 15. Louisville; 16. Nebraska; 17. Virginia; 18. Iowa State; 19. St. John’s; 20. Missouri; 21. Miami; 22. Purdue; 23. Saint Louis; 24. Gonzaga; 25. Indiana

THE FLORIDA ROSTER AS OF APRIL 27

Big guys (6): Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR); Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260, SO); Incoming: Jones Lay (7-0, 230); Arturas Butajevas (6-10, 220)

Perimeer (8): 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); CJ Ingram (6-7, 210, FR); Alex Lloyd (6-4, 180, FR); From the portal: Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR, from Kentucky)

THE REST OF THE SEC

ALABAMA

With nine departures and the uncertainty of Aden Holloway’s legal status, Nate Oats has to find shooters for his bombs away offense and some big guys to get rebounds. He’s helped with the big guys. Brandon Garrison (from Kentucky) was a necessity since he rebounds and defends with a very physical presence. Drew Fielder (from Boise State) is a big who can shoot. Oats has four returnees, four from the portal and three freshmen. He has four open scholarships.

From the portal (4): Brandon Garrison (6-11, 245, JR, from Kentucky); Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-10, 240, FR, from Mississippi State); Cole Cloer (6-7, 190, FR, from North Carolina State); Drew Fielder (6-10, 216, JR, from Boise State)

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

ARKANSAS

Right now Meleek Thomas is borderline first round. If he slides back to the second round it’s likely he returns. Thomas, Billy Richmond III and four outstanding freshmen give John Calipari a core foundation. He picked up a scorer in Georgia transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson and Furman transfer Cooper Bowser gives him rim protection. Malique Ewin could come back for a fifth year when the 5-for-5 rule passes. Among the freshmen are Jordan Smith, the top point guard in 2026 and 5-star bigs JaShawn Andrews and Miika Muurinen. Cal has five scholarships to work with.

From the portal (2): Cooper Bowser (6-11, 210, JR, from Furman); Jeremiah Wilkinson (6-1, 185, SO, from Georgia)

Incoming freshmen (4): Jordan Smith Jr. (6-2, 180); JaShawn Andrews (6-4, 195); Abdou Toure (6-6, 200); Miika Murrikan (6-11, 210)

AUBURN

The key returnees for Steven Pearl were shooters Kevin Overton and Tahaad Pettiford. He has gone strong in the portal for a pair of scorers in Adam Olsen and Thomas Dowd. Bukky Oboye is the rim protector. Pearl has three returnees, two freshmen signees and five from the portal, so he still needs five to fill out his roster.

From the portal (5): Bukky Oboye (7-1, 200, RSO, from Santa Clara); Owen Freeman (6-10, 230, JR, from Creighton); Thomas Dowd (6-8, 225, JR, from Troy); Adam Olsen (6-8, 225, FR, from South Alabama); George Kimble III (6-2, 184, SO, from Vanderbilt)

Incoming freshmen: Caleb Williams (6-5, 195); Narcisse Ngoy (6-11, 220)

GEORGIA

The portal has been unkind to Mike White, who lost Somto Cyril and Jeremiah Wilkinson along with four others. Three starters return in Blue Cain, Smurf Millender and Kanon Catchings. Freddie Dilione (from Penn State) is the only notable transfer. There are no incoming freshmen. Four returnees and three from the portal leaves White with eight scholarships to fill.

From the portal (3): Freddie Dilione (6-5, 195, JR, from Penn State); Brady Dunlap (6-7, 190, SO, from Saint Louis); Andrew Osasuyi (6-9, 205, FR, from St. Bonaventure)

KENTUCKY

Will the success of the Louisville Cardinals force a conclave in Lexington where Big Blue Nation will look for three puffs of smoke to indicate if there is a replacement Pope? Mark Pope is in deepest and darkest with four inexperienced returnees, just one freshman and three newbies, two from the portal and one an international. If Malachi Moreno stays in the draft, international signee Ousmane N’Diaye will have to play big minutes immediately. Washington transfer Zoom Diallo is a point and Furman transfer Alex Wilkins can score. There are five open scholarships. Pope needs to use them judiciously or else Kentucky will be seeking a new coach next year.

From the portal (2): Zoom Diallo (6-3, 190, SO, from Washington); Alex Wilkins (6-5, 175, FR, from Furman)

Qq 

Incoming freshmen (1): Mason Williams (6-2, 185)

International signee (1): Ousmane N’Diaye (6-11, 210, from Senegal)

LSU

There was a mass exodus when Matt McMahon was fired. It continued after Will Wade was hired. There are ZERO returning players, only one incoming freshman and only one signee from the portal. The situation is grim. Wade needs eight players just so he can have a 5-on-5 scrimmage, 13 to fill out the roster. Going to be a very long year in Baton Rouge.  

From the portal (1): Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7, 215, JR, from Kentucky)

Incoming freshmen (1): Kevin Thomas (6-6, 195)

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Of the four returning players, only Josh Hubbard stands out. All the size graduated or went into the portal.  From the portal, the pickings have been slim. Only RJ Johnson averaged double figures (14.4 at Kennesaw State). Chris Jans has five open scholarships and he needs size and at least one complementary scorer to take the heat off Hubbard. Three seniors with size went into the portal so when 5-for-5 is passed, they could return to provide immediate help.

From the portal (3): RJ Johnson (6-4, 225, SO, from Kennesaw State); Kendyl Sanders (6-8, 230, FR, from Utah); TJ Simpkins (6-4, 185, JR, from Seton Hall)

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

MISSOURI

Dennis Gates lost all his guards and the inside presence of Mark Mitchell, but he has brought in 5-star recruits Jason Crowe Jr. and Toni Bryant to build around. There is plenty of size but still a need for scoring from the portal and Providence transfer Jamier Jones will help fill that void. The three freshmen will have to play. As it stands right now, Gates has 12 on his roster with three open scholarships.

From the portal (3): Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, JR, from Tennessee); Jamier Jones (6-6, 218, FR, from Providence); Bryson Tiller (6-10, 240, SO, from Kansas)

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

OKLAHOMA

Porter Moser’s Sooners got hot at the end of last season, saving his job. Now he has a total rebuild. He has two good returning guards in Xzayvier Brown and Dayton Foster. Pop Isaacs (from Texas A&M) is the best of the three from the portal. Only one freshman was signed. Moser has to find size and toughness with the six scholarships he has to work with.

From the portal (3): Khani Rooths (6-8, 205, SO, from Louisville); Tyler Hendricks (6-5, 175, RJR, from Utah Valley); Pop Isaacs (6-2, 170, SR, from Texas A&M)

Incoming freshman (1): Gage Mayfield (6-7, 200)

OLE MISS

This isn’t as bad as LSU, but it’s close. The one returning player (Patton Pinkins) can flat out play. Three of the four portal pickups are solid starting with former Seton Hall point Adam Clark and power guy ND Okafor from Washington State. Chris Beard has nine scholarships to work with and he needs help everywhere.

From the portal (5): Roman Siulepa (6-6, 220, FR, from Pittsburgh); Adam Clark (5-10, 155, JR, from Seton Hall); ND Okafor (6-9, 235, RJR, from Washington State); Christian Brown (6-8, 236, FR, from James Madison); Dasear Hawkins (6-8, 200, SO, from St. Joseph’s)

Incoming freshman (1): Yohance Connor (6-2, 170)

SOUTH CAROLINA

A year after a season to forget, Lamont Paris is starting from scratch. He has two returning players, both nondescript, only one incoming freshman and five from the portal from which to build a roster. He got shooters in Kory Mincy and Shake Blakeney plus some size, but nothing to write home about. Another long year is shaping up unless Paris can find seven more from the portal who can play.

From the portal (5): Kory Mincy (6-2, 185, JR, from George Mason); Aleksas Bieliauskas (6-10, 235, FR, from Wisconsin); Shane Blakeney (6-5, 175, JR, from Drexel); Camden Heide (6-7, 205, JR, from Texas); Jakub Nekas (6-10, 240, JR, from Duquesne)

Incoming freshman (1): Marcus Johnson (6-2, 180)

TENNESSEE

Graduation, the NBA and the portal wiped out the Vols so Rick Barnes will field a team built around the portal and four outstanding freshmen. He got guards in point Dai Dai Ames and Terrence Hill Jr., rim protection in Miles Rubin and Braden Lue plus a shooter in Tyler Lundblade. Barnes has three remaining scholarships. He has assembled some talent but can they play defense the way he likes?

From the portal (6): 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); Terrence Hill Jr. (6-3, 180, SO, from VCU); Braeden Lue (6-8, 223, SO, from Kennesaw State)

Incoming freshmen (4); Chris Washington Jr. (6-8, 190); Ralph Scott (6-8, 195); Manny Green (6-6, 205); Marquis Clark (6-2, 165)

TEXAS

Ten players are gone although Chendall Weaver and Jordan Pope could return when 5-for-5 is enacted. Sean Miller returns 7-footer Matas Vokietaitis, which is a strong building block from which he can assemble a good roster. The freshman class of four is very good. From the portal David Punch (from TCU), Isaiah Johnson (from Colorado) and Amari Evans (from Tennessee) should be instant starters. Texas has six open scholarships with a need for a couple of bigs to back of Vokietaitis and a shooter or two.

From the portal (5): Isaiah Johnson (6-1, 170, FR, from Colorado); David Punch (6-7, 245, SO, from TCU); Amari Evans (6-5, 220, FR, from Tennessee); Elyjah Freeman (6-8, 185, SO, from Auburn); Mikey Lewis (6-3, 180, SO, from Saint Mary’s)

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

TEXAS A&M

Bucky Ball got wiped out by graduation and the portal. Bucky McMillan has nine scholarships available and with the exception of K-State transfer PJ Hagerty, he needs help everywhere. Hagerty is good for 20 a night and he will thrive in the Aggie system. There is a serious need for rebounding that hasn’t been found in the portal.

From the portal (5): PJ Hagerty (6-3, 192, JR, from Kansas State); Cade Phillips (6-9, 212, JR, from Tennessee); Jalen Reece (6-0, 185, FR, from LSU); Tyshawn Archie (6-1, 175, JR, from McNeese State); Jalen Shelley (6-8, 190, SO, from Loyola Marymount)

Incoming freshman (1): Josh Irving (6-10, 200)

VANDERBILT

If Tyler Tanner pulls out of the draft and Tyler Nickel, Okereke and PJ Washington get their fifth years, then Mike Byington will have a very good team to work with. Transfer Ace Glass will make up for the loss of Duke Miles and T.O. Barrett will be good on the wing or at the point if Tanner stays in the draft. Transfer Bangot Dak is an inside presence and Auburn transfer Sebastian Williams-Adams should blossom. Right now there are three available scholarships.

From the portal (5): Berke Buyunktuncel (6-9, 245, JR, from Nebraska); Ace Glass (6-3, 185, FR, from Washington State); Bangot Dak (6-11, 180, JR, from Colorado); Sebastian Williams-Adams (6-8, 230, FR, from Auburn); T.O. Barrett (6-4, 200, SO, from Missouri)

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