He's back! Micah Handlogten is back when UF needs him most

Micah Handlogten will be playing, not cheerleading Saturday night (UAA Photo)

“I’m back” and with those words Micah Handlogten gave 3rd-ranked Florida a jolt of energy as the Gators (21-3, 8-3 SEC) prep for the stretch run in the Southeastern Conference. Already a threat to earn a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, the return of the 7-1 junior is definitely a game-changer.

Handlogten, who averaged 5.3 points, 6.9 rebounds last season, suffered a compound leg fracture when the Gators faced Auburn in the 2024 SEC Tournament championship game. It was intended that Handlogten would take a redshirt for the entire 2024-25 season, but the injury to Alex Condon in Florida’s 81-68 win over Mississippi State in Starkville Tuesday night created a sense of urgency.

“I think it's the time that the team needs me, and I've been ready to play,” Handlogten said. “I've had some, like, hesitation in the past, but I've moved on past that, and I'm ready to get out there and hoop for the Gators."

The news comes at a most opportune time for the Gators who play host to South Carolina (10-14, 0-11 SEC) Saturday at the O-Dome (8:30 p.m., SEC Network). Condon suffered a sprained ankle 30 seconds into Florida’s Tuesday night win over Mississippi State, forcing the Gators to go the rest of the game with a 3-man rotation of big guys – Rueben Chinyelu, Thomas Haugh and Sam Alexis. Condon is week-to-week, game-to-game before he’s able to play again. Alexis is also banged up and will not be available against South Carolina, so the re-emergence of Handlogten is a huge development.

“Micah is one of the most unselfish guys I've ever been around,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “He's always worried about the team and the program. I think he saw another opportunity where he could really help and become a physical part of this as we move forward. He did miss out on playing in the tournament last year. He was tracking on missing out with what this season was going to be. He deserves more than that. He was a big part of getting our program where it is today.

“I think he'll continue to help us get even better the rest of the year. It's a huge lift from us. It's not every day you can add a starting-level SEC player this time of the year. Let's be honest, it's probably going to take him some time to get back to his full self out there, but the great thing is the physical piece is there and he's been playing pretty well." 

Until Condon is back healthy, the Gators will still have a 4-man rotation of experienced big guys. A year ago, Handlogten was one of the nation’s most effective offensive rebounders and a serious rim protector. When Condon returns, the Gators might have the strongest front court in the entire country.  

It was thought that Handlogten would return a couple of weeks ago when Georgia visited the O-Dome, but there was some hesitation on his part. Florida coach Todd Golden didn’t push the big guy and was content to go the rest of the way with the four guys who have carried the Gators this far. Handlogten may have been content with the decision, too, but he was sitting on the bench doing his usual encouragement and cheerleading when Condon went down.

The first thing Handlogten did was gather teammates around and lead the prayers for Condon. Perhaps it was during those prayers that he concluded it was time to take the wraps off and play ball again.

“We've always pushed each other in the last two years we've been together to kind of just like, get out there and, like, be the best players we can be,” Condon said. “And so as much as it, like, hurts me that he went down, it kind of also … I won't say influenced my decision, but it definitely played a factor in it. Because, like I said, my team needs me. And like, when a team goes through adversity, you need someone to step up, and I think that I can do that." 

Also playing into the decision was Florida’s opportunity to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. As of Friday morning, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi moved the Gators up to his No. 1 line as the top seed in the West Regional playing the opening round in Raleigh.

Handlogten, like Lunardi, sees the potential for Florida’s deepest NCAA run since the 2017 team made it to the Elite Eight. The Gators haven’t made the Final Four since 2014 and haven’t won a national championship since the back-to-back NCAA titles of 2006-07.

“I think the sky's the limit as far as, like, when everyone gets healthy,” Handlogten said. “I mean, you have Condo, obviously. He’ll be back in a week or two, something like that, and then Sam, same thing, but I think that we'll be able to, once everyone's back and healthy, I think that the sky's the limit. I literally think we can win the national championship.” 

By playing now, Handlogten will have to ask for an NCAA waiver to preserve his redshirt and keep two seasons of eligibility. That is entirely possible given the way the NCAA has flip flopped and caved on so many eligibility issues, but for now, that’s the least of his concerns.

All eyes are now on the getting the Gators through the regular season and into the NCAA Tournament, which is a dream for Handlogten.  

"It's the dream to play in March … I didn't get to do it my freshman year at Marshall,” Handlogten said. “Last year was cut short, like a game before, and so it's definitely played a role, just playing in March Madness. I've always wanted to, I dreamed of it as a kid, and so just, like, to have the ability to actually go out there and play, let alone solid minutes on the team. And I'm just, I'm so excited."

Golden on Condon’s status: “We dodged a bullet with it only being only a low-ankle sprain; no structural damage, no bone damage. He has not sprained his ankle much in his life, so it's a little more swollen and sore than your general ankle sprain. But already putting more pressure on it and walking around a little bit better. Haven't seen him today, but I think that one- to two-week timeline is pretty accurate right now."

Golden on the front court rotation against South Carolina: “We're banged up. Condo won't play tomorrow night. Sam won't play tomorrow night. So even with Micah's return, we have three guys that have been rotational players who are eligible in our front court. We'll still have to figure some things out for tomorrow night, but obviously Micah's addition helps us out a lot. Obviously, Rueben, Tommy and Micah will play the majority of minutes in the front court." 

Golden on Alijah Martin’s status: "He said he's feeling better this morning. But this deal has been a little tricky with his abdomen, the tightness and kind of a weird inability to treat it in terms of, like, there's only so much rehab you can do on your ab, you know? So, we'll see how practice looks today. We kind of felt like he was getting close to playing and he wasn't able to, so I don't wanna say that today and him not play tomorrow. So I'm gonna say I don't know, and hopefully he does. But he's definitely getting closer. He's getting closer."