Martin (Toronto), Richard (Golden State) taken in NBA 2nd round

Alijah Martin was taken in the second round by the Toronto Raptors (Gator Bait Photo by Chris Spears)

The best backcourt in all of college basketball last season will be taking their games to the NBA. Following the first round selection of Walter Clayton Jr. by the Utah Jazz Wednesday night, both Alijah Martin and Will Richard were taken in the second round when the NBA Draft concluded Thursday night.

Martin, who averaged 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists after transferring to Florida from Florida Atlantic, was taken with the 39th pick by the Toronto Raptors. Richard, a three-year starter at UF who began his career as a transfer from Belmont, was taken with the 56th pick by the Golden State Warriors, who made a trade to move up three places to land him.

A 6-2, 195-pounder from Summit, Mississippi, Martin was a key component to Florida Atlantic’s run to the Final Four in 2023. After transferring to Florida, he became the second leading scorer and an invaluable asset as a team leader. Counting his FAU stats, Martin averaged 12.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 rebounds per game for his collegiate career, scoring 2,022 points.

Richard, 6-4 and 206 pounds, came to Florida after a freshman year at Belmont in which he averaged 12.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. A pure shooter who made 201 3-pointers in his three years at Florida, Richard averaged 13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He was selected to the all-tournament teams at the SEC and NCAA Final Four. Counting his Belmont stats, Richard averaged 11.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists for his collegiate career in which he hit 248-698 (35.5 percent) from the 3-point line.

A tough, physical defender who rebounded well beyond his 6-2 size, Martin electrified crowds during Florida’s NCAA run with thunderous dunks. Against UConn, he came up with a loose rebound and slammed home a dunk for an 8-point Florida lead with 41.5 seconds to go. Against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight, he batted a loose rebound to midcourt, outran everyone to the ball and finished with a high-flying breakaway with 11:36 left in the game. Against Auburn in the semifinal game at the Final Four, he had two – the first off a steal in which he soared high above the rim with 9:54 to go; the second off a steal when he finished by splitting two Auburn defenders for the dunk with  5:22 left.

Martin goes to a Toronto team that finished 22 games under .500 during the 2024-25 season. He joins a crowded backcourt headlined by RJ Barrett who averaged 21.1 points per game and point guard Immanuel Quickley, who scored 17.1 points and 5.8 assists per game. The Raptors come off the bench with Grady Dick (14.4), Ochai Agbaji (10.4) A.J. Lawson (9.1) and JaKobe Walter (8.6).

Richard had moments in which he literally took the game over. Against South Carolina in Columbia, the Gators were down 13 points (58-45) with 8:49 left in the game. When the Gators went to a full court press, Richard came up with three critical steals. He scored 10 of Florida’s final 22 points including the game winner with 3.1 seconds to go, the only time the Gators led the entire game. In the NCAA championship game against Houston, Richard kept the Gators in the game with 14 first half points. He finished the game with 18 points to go with eight rebounds, two assists, a blocked shot and two steals.

Richard goes to a Golden State team that made the playoffs once again. The Warriors are led by Stephon Curry (24.5 points per game). The backcourt also includes shooters Buddy Hiels (11.1), Brandin Podziemski (11.7) and Moses Moody (9.8).

Both Martin and Richard are likely to sign 2-way contracts. Toronto’s G-League affiliate is Raptors 905 which plays in Mississauga, Ontario, which Golden State’s G-League team is Santa Cruz.

UF FOOTBALL: GATORS LAND 4-STAR O-LINEMAN

Billy Napier and the Gators continued their outstanding June recruiting haul Thursday when they got a commitment from 4-star interior offensive lineman Desmond Green (6-4, 330, Saint Stephen, SC Timberland).  Green is Florida’s 14th commitment for the recruiting class of 2026, Florida’s 12th in the month of June.

In landing Green, the Gators outrecruited Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Clemson. Green had offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Oregon and Tennessee among others.

2025 commitments

4-stars: OL Desmond Green (6-4, 330, Saint Stephen, SC Timberland); DB CJ Bronaugh (6-1, 175, Winter Garden, FL Windermere); WR Marquez Daniel (6-5, 182, Tuskeegee, AL Booker T. Washington); DE JaReylan McCoy (6-7, 250, Tupelo, MS); RB Carsyn Baker (6-0, 210, Fairburn, GA Langston Hughes); WR Justin Williams (5-11, 190, Gainesville, FL Buchholz); QB Will Griffin (6-3, 230, Tampa, FL Jesuit)

3-stars: OL Javarii Luckas (6-5, 330, Belle Glade, FL Glades Central); OT Tyler Chukuyem (6-6, 290, Douglasville, GA South Paulding); OT Chancellor Campbell (6-8, 305, St. Petersburg, FL Lakewood); S Kaiden Hall (6-3, 195, Milton, FL); IOL G’Nivre Carr (6-4, 336, Ocala, FL/Bradenton, FL IMG Academy); DL Jamir Perez (6-5, 360, Cleveland, OH Glenville); TE Kekua Aumua (6-5, 255, Kahuku, Hawaii)