Gators Go Big With Latest Hoops Commit

Todd Golden landed his second 4-star recruit in a week Wednesday when center Kamsi Awaka (6-10, 250, Cheshire, MA/Blairstown, NJ Blair Academy) committed to the Gators, joining Ian Condon (6-7, 240, Washington, DC Sidwell Friends) in Florida's 2027 recruiting class that expects to sign letters of intent next month. The younger brother of former Arizona star and now NBA rookie Tobe Awaka chose Florida over UConn, Michigan, Arizona and Michigan State.

Blessed with a 7-4 wingspan, Awaka is an intimidator in the paint who averaged 8.1 rebounds and four blocked shots per game while playing for New Heights on the Adidas AAU circuit during the summer. His size and strength make the obvious comparison to Rueben Chinyelu when he signed originally with Washington State before transferring to Florida ahead of the 2024-25 season.

"Literally, the physically strongest guy I've ever coached here," Blair Academy head coach Joe Mantegna told Adam Zagoria. "Now that he's playing with more physicality, he's becoming dominant. As you know with human nature, once you learn how to dominate then you always want to dominate."

Awaka is ranked No. 31 by the recruiting experts at Rivals, No. 41 by 247Sports and No. 59 by ESPN.

The Gators, who are the consensus No. 1 team in the nation in the preseason polls for the 2026-27 season, figure to lose at least five players off the current 15-man roster – three (Tommy Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu) to the NBA and two (Denzel Aberdeen and AJ Brown) whose eligibility will be up. It is conceivable that Florida could also lose two or three more either to the professional ranks or to the transfer portal. The current roster breakdown with the additions of Kamsi Awaka and Ian Condon give the Gators 12 on the projected roster for next season, leaving three available slots.

Whether through high school recruiting or the transfer portal, Golden needs to add a point guard, a pure shooter on the wing and a versatile big guy who is comfortable playing both the high and low post as well as the wing.

Currently the Gators are recruiting three point guards – 5-star Beckham Black (6-3, 180, Duncanville, TX/Orlando Florida Southeastern Prep); 5-star Cayden Daughtry (6-0, 165, Boynton Beach, FL/Fort Lauderdale, FL Calvary Christian); and Kalen Edouard (6-0, 145, Tallahassee, FL Florida A&M School).

The Gators are also recruiting 5-star combo guard Nasir Anderson (6-3, 215, Savannah, GA/Fort Lauderdale, FL Prolific Prep); 5-star center Lewis Uvwo (6-11, 225, Fort Lauderdale, FL Prolific Prep); and 4-star wing Asa Montgomery (6-7, 215, Powder Springs, GA Hillgrove).

Black is thought to be leaning to either Texas or Arkansas. Daughtry is considered a tossup between Florida and Miami. Kentucky is the current leader for Uvwo. Anderson is a Georgia leaner. Florida is in it with Georgia Tech and Auburn for Montgomery.

The Gators have always had success internationally. A few prospects worth following: Aubrey Chunga (6-6, 180, Wellington, New Zealand; 18 years old); Dash Daniels (6-5, 198, Melbourne, Australia, 18 years old); Andrija Djaletec (6-8, 200, Montenegro/Serbia, 19 years old); Stefan Joksimovic (6-6, 190, Slovenia, 17 years old); Diego Niebla (6-8, 220, Spain/Italy, 19 years old); Hugo Yimka Mougouri (6-8, 219, France, 18 years old); and Papa Niang (6-4, 212, Italy, 18 years old).

Roster outlook for 2027-28

Fifth Year Departures (2)

Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190): Start on the wing, backup at the point, defend three perimeter positions.

AJ Brown (6-4, 210): Serious 3-point shooter who could literally shoot his way into minutes off the bench.

Fourth Year with One More Year of Eligibility (5)

Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215): Expected lottery pick NBA Draft.

Alex Condon (6-11, 236): Expected first round NBA.

Rueben Chinyelu (6-10, 265): Expected first round NBA.

Urban Klavzar (6-1, 185): Anyone who can shoot like this will have a chance to play beyond his college years. Could return for one more year.

Alex Kovatchev (6-5, 195): Could come back one more year or play professionally in Australia.

Third Year with Two More Years of Eligibility (4)

Boogie Fland (6-3, 185): With a great year could be off to the NBA.

Isaiah Brown (6-4, 210): Will be early off the bench this year, could start the next two. Has NBA possibilities.

Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260): This is his third year. He needs to become a real contributor off the bench. Excellent practice player.

Domen Petrovic (6-9, 230): Expect him to earn minutes off the bench because he has size and can shoot. Should start next year.

Second Year with Three More Years of Eligibility (2)

CJ Ingram (6-6, 205): Still growing and getting better. Super athletic. Tommy Haugh's understudy so he will get double digit minutes.

Alex Lloyd (6-3, 185): Expect a quantum leap as a shooter and as a backup point to Boogie.

First Year with Four More Years of Eligibility (2)

Jones Lay (6-11, 240): He's better than anyone thought he would be. Next year he will be a factor.

Arturas Butajevis (6-10, 235): Everybody loves his game. Size, tough and can shoot the three.

2027 Commitments (2)

Ian Condon (6-7, 240, Washington, DC Sidwell Friends)

Kamsi Awaka (6-10, 250, Cheshire, MA/Blairstown, NJ Blair Academy)

What the 2027-28 Roster Could Look Like

Big guys (6): Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260, 4th); Domen Petrovic (6-9, 230, 4th); Jones Lay (6-11, 240, 2nd); Arturas Butajevis (6-10, 235, 2nd); Ian Condon (6-7, 240, 1st); Kamsi Awaka (6-10, 250, 1st)

Perimeter (6): Urban Klavzar (6-1, 185, 5th); Alex Kovatchev (6-5, 195, 5th); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, 4th); Isaiah Brown (6-4, 210, 4th); CJ Ingram (6-6, 205, 3rd); Alex Lloyd (6-3, 185, 3rd)