Florida Basketball: The Jumpman Invitational offers opportunity for Gator teams to test themselves against one of basketball’s most storied programs.

The Gator men and women will face North Carolina Tuesday and Wednesday in Charlotte.

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com

The Gator’s men’s and women’s basketball teams fresh off a weekend that saw both teams notch dominating wins now turn their attention to the Queen City of Charlotte, North Carolina for one of basketball’ most unique events. The Jumpman Invitational features the original four Jordan Brand sponsored schools Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Michigan in a rotating competition where the schools have alternated playing one another since 2022. In the inaugural year of the competition the Gators teams faced Oklahoma, followed by Michigan in 2023.

Tuesday, the Gators will face the de facto hosts of the event, the North Carolina Tar Heels. The North Carolina men is the only team of the eight to have never lost in the event but currently sit outside the Top 25 after four early losses. The Gator men are 10-0 for the first time since the 2005-2006 season in route to the schools’ first national title. The Gators have been led by senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. who has been stellar this season making history from the 3-point line. In Saturday’s dominating win over Arizona State Clayton became just the second Gator along with Anthony Robeson (2005) to make at least five 3-pointers in three straight contests. Clayton also leads the team in assists and is impressively fourth on the team in blocks.

In North Carolina they will face an opponent that is looking to right the ship after tough early losses including a blowout loss at home to Alabama in the SEC/ACC Challenge 79-94. The Jumpman will certainly have a home feel for the Tar Heels and will be a great early season test for the Gators who along with Clayton feature senior guards Will Richard and Alijah Martin who was a member of the Florida Atlantic team the made the Final Four in 2023. In describing his team Florida coach Todd Golden stated, "We have really good players. They've bought into each other, they play hard for each other and there's no selfishness on this team right now.”

The men will take center stage on the events first night with Florida versus North Carolina at 7pm followed by Michigan versus Oklahoma at 9:30pm. The women’s teams will follow Wednesday evening with Florida versus North Carolina at 6:30pm followed by Oklahoma versus Michigan at 9pm.

Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. (Chris Spears photo)

The Gator women have also played well the past two weeks as they prepare to head to Charlotte. The Gators are currently on a four game winning streak including a dominating performance on the road at Clemson in the SEC/ACC challenge winning 77-64. The Gators have been led by senior center Ra’Shaya Kyle who has registered four straight double-doubles and seven in the team’s first eleven games. The 6-6 Kyle returned from ACL surgery two months early and has been one the SEC’s best post players. Freshman Liv McGill is one of the top freshman scorers in the country and is currently second on the team behind Kyle.

In North Carolina the Gators will face their fourth ACC foe (Miami, FSU, Clemson) this season and will like the men deal with a pro Tar Heel crowd Wednesday. The North Carolina women had won seven straight until a home loss to Georgia Tech Sunday. The Gators will have to play some of their best basketball to get the win but the play of Kyle gives the Gators someone to hang their hat on. “Shay is extremely athletic, she’s very versatile”, stated Florida coach Kelly Rae Finley after the teams win against Longwood on Sunday. 

Florida center Ra'Shaya Kyle (Courtesy of Florida Women’s Basketball)

The Jumpman Invitational will treat all the programs to a first class experience the next three days. There are photo shoots, one of a kind apparel, corporate events, the finest dining, and the opportunity to showcase their talents in an NBA arena as well as access to the Charlotte Hornets practice facilities. While it is rumored that this could be the last year for this event the players and coaches are looking forward to all that comes with being involved with the world’s most notable athletic brand. “They do an elite job of making our student-athletes experiences second to none”, stated Finley. “We are looking forward to it”.