Kugel to Kansas; So Who Do the Gators Go After in the Portal?

After a season in which his productivity and playing time diminished considerably in the last month, Riley Kugel is transferring to Kansas. Kugel needed a fresh start and at Kansas, he will not only get the fresh start but will have a chance to play for a national championship contender.

Kugel is an immense talent who had games at Florida in which he lit it up and others in which he disappeared. There were obvious issues with head coach Todd Golden, otherwise he wouldn’t have sat the bench in both the semifinal and championship games of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. 

Just what were the issues? That’s something neither Golden nor Kugel have outwardly discussed but there is no question there was a rift between the two. 

In his final five appearances in a Florida uniform, Kugel scored 36 points. He had 11 in 21 minutes on the floor in the NCAA Tournament loss to Colorado. When the Gators unloaded on Auburn at the O-Dome, a bell-to-bell XX win back on February 10, Kugel was a dominator, scoring 22 points and playing lock down defense. Three days later he scored only six in a win over LSU and followed that up with a rather lackadaisical five in a win over Georgia in Athens. He played three minutes in Florida’s overtime loss to Alabama in Tuscaloosa. 

Kugel scored only 49 points the rest of the season including five tournament games (4 SEC, 1 NCAA). Kugel continued to play outstanding defense, but he became almost lethargic when the Gators had the basketball, almost as if he expected to be lifted at any point. 

Obviously, it’s a loss when someone of Kugel’s ability leaves the program with two years of eligibility, but sometimes it is addition by subtraction. In no way is this a jab at Kugel, but you just can’t have someone of his talent level in a relatively unproductive role on the team. At some point it has to be a distraction for the coaches and teammates alike.

At Kansas, Kugel should thrive in Bill Self’s system. Both the wing/combo guards – Kevin McCullar and Nicolas Timberlake – have used up their eligibility so there is playing time available. Kansas did sign 5-star wing Rakease Passmore, but there is room for both Passmore and Kugel in the KU lineup.

So what does Florida do? Will Richard is expected to return for his senior season and Denzel Aberdeen can play both the point or either of the wings. The Gators have signed an explosive wing in Isaiah Brown (6-6, 190) out of Orlando Christian Prep, who is more of a scorer than shooter.

It is likely the Gators will be looking to add a wing from the transfer portal along with at least one big and a point guard. Cade Tyson (6-7, 200) from Belmont is on Florida’s radar but he has plenty of suitors including Clemson where older brother Hunter Tyson had a very good career. Tyson (16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 46.5 percent 3-pointers) is from Monroe, North Carolina which is barely an hour away from Clemson. If Florida has an advantage here it is that Richard transferred to UF from Belmont. 

The Gators are reportedly pursuing Tyson’s Belmont teammate Malik Dia (6-9, 240), who visited Ole Miss this weekend. The knock on Dia is that wherever he transfers will be his third school in three years (began at Vanderbilt). At Belmont last season he averaged 16.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. 

Here is a look at the Florida roster.

On scholarship

Guards/small forwards (4): Will Richard (6-4, 206, JR); Walter Clayton Jr. (6-2, 195, JR); Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SO); Kajus Kublickas (6-2, 171, FR)

Big guys (4): Micah Handlogten (7-1, 230, SO); Aleks Szymczyk (6-10, 250, RFR); Alex Condon (6-11, 230, FR); Thomas Haugh (6-9, 215, FR)

Signed: Isaiah Brown (6-6, 190, Orlando, FL Orlando Christian Prep)

Committed: Olivier Rioux (7-7, 300, Montreal, Quebec Canada/Bradenton, FL IMG Academy). He’s a 2025 recruit who says he will reclassify. This one is still up in the air but one thing you cannot teach is tall and Rioux is definitely tall. Listed by some at 7-6 and others at 7-7, but what’s an inch when you’re that height?

Who’s in the portal that UF may find interesting

Point guards

Dug McDaniel, Michigan (5-11, 175, SO): Averaged 16.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Visited Kansas State this weekend. Lots of talk about TCU.  

Dionte Bostick, Cal State-Northridge (6-2, 190, JR): He’s from Clearwater and the same league that gave UF Zyon Pullin. Averaged 15.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. 

Drew Thelwell, Morehead State (6-3, 190, SR): He’s from Orlando. The coach who originally recruited him (Matt Fortuna) is at LSU. His coach the last two years (Preston Spradlin) just left for James Madison. Averaged 10 points, three rebounds and 6.2 assists per game.   

Malik Mack, Harvard (6-1, 180, FR): Everybody wants him. Syracuse is putting on the full court press. As a freshman averaged 17.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

Leland Walker, Eastern Kentucky (6-1, 185, SO): Averaged 15.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Indiana is pushing hard.  

Koren Johnson, Washington (6-2, 175, SO): Averaged 11.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 37.3 percent from the 3-point line. Florida is very much in the hunt.  

Rayshon Harrison, Grand Canyon (6-4, 190, JR): Greenville, SC native who averaged 13.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists per game.

Matt Allocco, Princeton (6-4, 200, JR): Serious shooter and trash talker. Averaged 12.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Shot 50.8 percent overall, 42.7 percent 3-pointers and 90.9 percent at the foul line.

Small forwards/big guards

J’Vonne Hadley, Colorado (6-6, 200, JR): Hit 41.7 percent from three while averaging 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Heavily pursued by Michigan State.  

Cade Tyson, Belmont (6-7, 210, SO): Can defend three positions and is an absolute bomber from the outside where he shot 46.5 percent on his 3-pointers. Averaged 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds. Florida is in it but so are Kansas, Oregon, Ole Miss and Auburn.

Rytis Petraitis, Air Force (6-7, 200, SO): Super high basketball IQ who had a triple double this year. Averaged 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists. 

Terrence Edwards, James Madison (6-6, 190, SR): Averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Atlanta kid who’s hearing from everyone in the SEC. His JMU coach is now at Vandy. Louisville is pushing hard.

Tyrin Lawrence, Vanderbilt (6-4, 200, SR): Averaged 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds. He was thought to be Florida-bound last year before electing to return to Vandy. Can defend three positions.  

BJ Freeman, Milwaukee (6-6, 200, SR): Averaged 21.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Will decide between the NBA Draft and one more year of college. Kentucky is parked on his doorstep.  

Michael James, Louisville (6-6, 200, SO): Played high school ball at Orlando Oak Ridge. Averaged 12.6 points and 5.0 rebounds as a redshirt sophomore last season.  A 4-star recruit out of high school who wasn’t interested in UF and the previous coach.  

Big guys

Danny Wolf, Yale (7-0, 255, SO): Averaged 14.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Everybody wants him. Dusty May seems to have the inside track. He’s from Chicago, so Michigan is not so far away.  

Eddie Lambkin, Colorado (6-11, 300, SR): Averaged 10.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Florida couldn’t stop him. Ideal replacement for Tyrese Samuel.

Joshua Jefferson, Saint Mary’s (6-8, 225, SO): Averaged 10.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Had knee surgery in February.

Justin Abson, Appalachian State (6-9, 240, SO): Pompano Beach native who was the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Averaged 7.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game for the Sun Belt champs.

Maxime Reynaud, Stanford (7-1, 240, JR): Averaged 15.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Everybody wants him.

Sam Alexis, Chattanooga (6-9, 240, SO): Apopka kid who was 190 when he signed out of high school. Averaged 10.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game.