Plenty of variables as Todd Golden puts together the Florida basketball roster for next season

Isaiah Brown will compete for starter minutes next season (Photo by Chris Spears)

Depending on the NCAA and NBA, Todd Golden could have a team that could very well compete for the NCAA championship next year or one with a number of new faces filling in the gaps in a roster reconstruction season. If Micah Handlogten gets a waiver from the NCAA that will allow him to play for Florida next year and if Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu elect to return if they get second round grades from the NBA, then the Gators will be serious contenders. If all three are gone, then it’s time to reconstruct the roster.

There are so many variables but here is a look at the players on the current roster along with transfers and international players who might figure into Golden’s plans.

SENIORS

Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185): He will get a look on an NBA summer roster that should parlay into a G-League contract. His game is better suited to the Euro or Asian leagues.

* Micah Handlogten (7-1, 260): He has appealed for another year which should be granted by the NCAA. He suffered an horrendous leg fracture in the 2004 SEC Tournament championship game, missed the NCAA game and then more than half of 2024-25. Expect him back.

• Requested NCAA waiver

JUNIORS

Alex Condon (6-11, 236): Listed 6-11, but he’s 7-0+ and guys his size who can handle the ball, pass and play defense whether in the paint or perimeter are hard to come by. Will his play the last 10 games of the season (19.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists) to push him into the first round? That’s the real question. ESPN has him ranked No. 38, which makes him early second round. He could work his way into solid first round projections with a great combo and workouts. If he’s a first rounder he has to go. If he gets solid second round grades, he should come back. He can make more money at UF than he can in the second round.

Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215): Draft evals have him going anywhere from No. 12 (lottery) to No. 20 in the first round. Say good-bye to Tommy. He can’t pass up a fully guaranteed multi-year contract. Most likely he gets selected between 12 and 16.

Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265): He was a double-double machine for much of the season, but had some disappointing games down the final stretch. Doesn’t have a jump shot and needs to power through contact and dunk more. He will make more money at Florida than as a second rounder.

Urban Klavzar (6-1, 190): The SEC’s best sixth man is a lights out shooter who figures to start on the wing next season. He will play internationally for Slovenia in the summer, which will help prepare him for a big senior season.

A.J. Brown (6-5, 210, RJR): Took a redshirt year after transferring from Ohio U to fully recover from shoulder surgery. A real bomber from the outside who can slash and get to the rim.

Cooper Josefsberg (6-4, 195): Walk-on who is probably the most popular guy on the team. Good guy to have in the locker toom.

SOPHOMORES

Boogie Fland (6-3, 185): He definitely needs to come back but is certain to test out the NBA waters to get an evaluation. He played well throughout the SEC portion of the season. He’s exceptional defensively and he can’t be pressed. Needs to become more assertive getting to the rim off the bounce and needs to become a consistent 3-point shooter.

Isaiah Brown (6-6, 210): Worked his way into the rotation and became extremely valuable off the bench. Slasher who has serious hops and a very good lefty shooter from the corner. He will compete for starter minutes. Can defend three positions.

Alex Kovatchev (6-5, 195, RSO): Australian who transferred in the summer from Sacramento State where he would have started. Very good practice player who plays defense. Unless he burns it up this summer, destined to be a role-player next season.

Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260): He has size and he’s been a good practice player for two years. He can shoot well and handle the ball but can he defend at the level Golden expects to get significant minutes? Plays for Serbia in the Euro FIBA tournaments. He needs a really good summer.

FRESHMAN

CJ Ingram (6-7, 205): He’s taller than the 6-6 he’s listed – 6-7 or maybe 6-8? And he’s still growing. The way he worked to develop his jump shot he may be the successor on the perimeter to Tommy Haugh.

Alex Lloyd (6-3, 180): He can shoot the ball, but has to spend much of his summer in the weight room to get physically stronger. He has real potential as a scoring point.

Olivier Rioux (7-9, 305, RFR): He made great strides this year. He’s stronger, more flexible and more mobile. No one expects him to get serious minutes next year, but he’s developing, teammates love him, he’s got a great work ethic and you can’t teach tall.

INCOMING FRESHMAN

Jones Lay (7-0, 230): A late bloomer with size, good feet and a dunk it mentality. He flew under the radar for the longest time but cracked the Rivals top 100 list.

ROSTER OUTLOOK FOR NEXT SEASON

A lot of what ifs here, but based on the best information at the moment, the Gators could return as many as 12 scholarship players and two walk-ons. With the NCAA increase to 15 scholarships from 13, Todd Golden has some flexibility.

If Condon and Chinyelu receive second round grades, they would be foolish not to return for one more year. Handlogten is likely to get a waiver that will allow him to return, but it is entirely possible all three will depart. If that’s the case, then Golden will be extremely active in the portal looking for experienced big guys. The wild card on the front line is Ingram, who has grown since last summer and could wind up somewhere between 6-7 and 6-9.

On the perimeter, point guard Boogie Fland is the returning starter with backup Alex Lloyd. There is plenty of shooting on the wings so that shouldn't be a problem.

Here is what the roster will look like if Condon, Chinyelu and Handlogten return:

Big guys (6 scholarship, 1 walkon)Alex Condon (7-0, 236); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265); Micah Handlogten (7-1, 260); Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260); * Olivier Rioux (7-9, 305); CJ Ingram (6-7, 210); Jones Lay (7-0, 230)

Permieter guys (6 scholarship, 1 walkon)

Boogie Fland (6-3, 185); Urban Klavzar (6-1, 195); Isaiah Brown (6-6, 210); AJ Brown (6-5, 210); Alex Lloyd (6-3, 180); Alex Kovatchev (6-5, 195); * Cooper Josefsberg (6-4, 195)

* Walkon

Some international names to watch

SG Ignas Urbanas (6-6, 200, Lithuania): At last year’s FIBA under-18s he averaged 11 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Still growing, expected to top out at 6-8.

SG Nikola Kusturica (6-8, 210, Serbia): He’s just 17 and already playing for Barcelona. At last summer’s Euro under-16s he averaged 20 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

PF Lun Jarc (6-9, 215, Slovenia): At last summer’s under-16 Euros, he was good for 14.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 37.9 percent on threes.

C Petar Bjelica (6-10, 225, Serbia): True power player who can dominate in the paint. At last summer’s Euros averaged 15 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while impressing as a shot blocker. Just turned 17.

Interesting early names in the portal

PF Kwame Evans (6-10, 235, JR, Oregon): He can score and rebound (13.3/7.4) but he’s a one-and-done wherever he goes. Very productive and efficient.

C Ben Defty (7-0, 255, SO, Boston University): He’s ready for big time after averaging 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds at BU. Plays for the German national team.

PG Chance Gladden (6-4, 185, FR, Boston University): From Raleigh so there will be a lot of ACC teams pushing for him. Averaged 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game as a true freshman.

PG Christian Hammond (6-4, 195, SO, Santa Clara): Excellent ball handler and scorer for a very good Santa Clara team. Averaged 15.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while hitting 39.3 percent from three.

PF Paulius Murauskas (6-8, 235, JR, Saint Mary’s): He’s not a lock to follow Randy Bennett to Arizona State. Might be the best player in the portal. Averaged 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He’s from Lithuania. Dominator.

PG Joel Foxwell (6-1, 180, FR, Portland): Playing in the tough West Coast Conference averaged 15.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game for Portland. True freshman who can handle the ball and defend.

SF/SG Isaac Celiscar (6-6, 210, SO, Yale): He’s an excellent shooter (40.7 percent from three) who rebounds better than his size. Averaged 13.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

PG Dedan Thomas Jr. (6-1, 180, JR, LSU): When he went down with an injury this past season, LSU went in the tank. There is a relationship with Florida associate head coach Carlin Hartman. Before the injury he was averaging 15.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 6.5 assists. Only one year of eligibility but may be worth it in the event Boogie goes pro or transfers.