Handlogten to the portal; is it a signal that two or more bigs are planning to return to UF?

(Photo by Chris Spears)

Micah Handlogten, whose decision to burn his redshirt was essential in Florida’s national championship run in 2025, is entering the NCAA transfer portal. While the move probably caught Gator fans by surprise, it doesn’t shut the door on a return to UF.

A 7-1, 260-pound senior, Handlogten averaged 4.1 points and 5.9 rebounds this past season while playing in 34 games with two starts. A starter as a sophomore when he transferred to UF from Marshall, Handlogten fractured his leg in the 2024 Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game. He was planning to redshirt the 2024-25 season when he responded to a rash of injuries in February by electing to play out the season, becoming a critical piece in the big man rotation that helped the Gators to the NCAA title.

From an eligibility standpoint, last season was Handlogten’s fourth but he has appealed to the NCAA, asking for a waiver that will grant another year since he missed Florida’s NCAA Tournament game in 2024 and the first 24 games of 2024-25. Given the seemingly erratic responses the NCAA has to waiver requests it is thought that Handlogten has a better than 50 percent chance to get approved.

When Handlogten put his name in the portal it raised speculation that some or all of the NBA draft eligible Gators might be returning. Tommy Haugh is projected as a first rounder who could be taken in the last third of the lottery, but he has a season of eligibility remaining so he could come back to play one more season for the Gators. Both national Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon are projected as second rounders. They may choose to return for their senior seasons where, thanks to NIL, they stand to make more money than they would as second rounders.

If two of the three elect to return, it would mean another year of coming off the bench for Handlogten, whose size alone makes him an NCAA prospect. He needs more playing time, therefore transferring out makes sense if perhaps Chinyelu and Condon return.

Handlogten does have time to make a decision about what’s next. Due to his size and experience, he has plenty of options available if he remains in the portal. However, if Haugh, Chinyelu and Condon all elect to stay in the draft, the door remains wide open for Handlogten to return as the only Florida big with experience.

Handlogten is the third departure from last season’s team which finished 27-8, losing to Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Xaivian Lee is out of eligibility. Handlogten and Olivier Rioux have placed their names in the portal.

Here is a preview of the Florida roster as it stands without any declarations of future intentions by Haugh, Chinyelu or Condon.

Bigs: Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260, SO)

Perimeter: AJ Brown (6-5, 210, RJR); Urban Klavzar (6-1, 195, JR); Alex Kovatchev (6-5, 195, RSO); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Isaiah Brown (6-5, 210, SO); CJ Ingram (6-7, 205, FR); Alex Lloyd (6-3, 180, FR)

Signed: Jones Lay (7-0, 230)

With 12 scholarships accounted for, Todd Golden has three available for the portal, international players or freshmen who opt out of scholarships due to coaching changes. Whether or not Haugh, Condon and Chinyelu decide to return, Golden has to prioritize bringing in big guys. Should they all three stay in the draft, Handlogten could return but Golden would still need to bring in at least two more big guys, preferably with size and college experience. Since Fland is the only true point guard on the roster, adding another point guard is a necessity.

Here are a few transfers the Gators might have an interest in recruiting:

Ben Defty (7-0, 255, SO, Boston University): German native who played high school basketball at a New England prep school. Legitimate size, serious rim protector. Averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game.

Christian Hammond (6-4, 195, SO, Santa Clara): There is a lot of talk that Florida is already in the mix. As a sophomore he averaged 15.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game for an NCAA team while shooting 39.3 percent from the 3-point line.

Andrew McKeever (7-3, 285, SO, Saint Mary’s): You can’t teach tall (7-3) and he’s got aircraft carrier size. Averaged 8.2 points and 9.2 rebounds. Will he follow Randy Bennett to Arizona State?

Sam Orme (6-9, 220, SO, Belmont): First and foremost, Florida’s last transfer from Belmont (Will Richard) turned out pretty well, didn’t he? Averaged 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and shot 39.7 percent on 3-pointers as a sophomore.  

Neoklis Avdalas (6-9, 215, FR, Virginia Tech): He can play all three wing positions quite well, but is most comfortable at the point. As a freshman, he averaged 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. He’s 20 years old and from Greece.

Flory Bidunga (6-9, 220, SO, Kansas): The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game. Declared for the NBA Draft but doesn’t have a jumper and is No. 44 on the ESPN board.

Oswin Erhunmwunse (6-10, 225, SO, Providence): Raw offensive skills but rebounds and blocks shots. Averaged 6.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game.

Acaden Lewis (6-2, 180, FR, Villanova): Pure point who averaged 12.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Overall shot 58.3 percent, but only 27 percent from three. Played AAU ball with Team Durant out of DC.

Bryson Tiller (6-10, 240, FR, Kansas): Played extensively as a freshman, averaging 7.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. From Atlanta, he was a top 100 recruit out of high school in Atlanta.

Shon Abaev (6-8, 210, FR, Cincinnati): He’s a Fort Lauderdale kid who played at Calvary Christian where he was a 4-star recruit. Averaged 7.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game. Had an offer from the Gators out of high school.

SEC IN THE PORTAL

Alabama

Taylor Bol Bowen (6-10, 195, JR); Aiden Sherrell (6-10, 240, SO)

Arkansas

Karter Knox (6-6, 211, SO); DJ Wagner (6-3, 175, JR)

Florida

Olivier Rioux (7-9, 305, RFR); Micah Handlogten (7-1, 260, SR)

Georgia

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

Kentucky

Jaland Lowe (6-2, 170, JR); Brandon Garrison (6-11, 245, JR); Jasper Johnson (6-5, 180, FR); Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7, 215, JR); Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR)

LSU

Dedan Thomas Jr. (6-1, 178, JR); Jalen Reed (6-10, 230, SR); Mazi Mosley (6-5, 169, FR); Matt Gilhool (6-11, 213, FR); Ron Zipper (6-5, 209, FR)

Mississippi State

Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-10, 240, FR); Dellquan Waren (6-1, 160, FR)

Missouri

Anthony Robinson II (6-2, 175, JR); Sebastian Mack (6-3, 195, JR); T.O. Barrett (6-4, 200, SO)

Ole Miss

Eduardo Klafke (6-5, 190, SO); Ilias Kamardine (6-5, 185, FR); Hobert Grayson IV (6-4, 205, SR); Corey Chest (6-8, 210, RSO)

South Carolina

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)

Tennessee

Tyler Lundblade (6-5, 195, SR, from Belmont); Cade Phillips (6-9, 212, JR); Clarence Massamba (6-5, 192, FR); JP Estrella (6-11, 241, RSO); Bishop Boswell (6-4, 203, SO); Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, JR)

Texas A&M

Josh Holloway (6-1, 178, JR)

Vanderbilt

Frankie Collins (6-1, 185, SR)