UF Basketball: Gators will probably add 3 or 4 from the transfer portal

A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning:

Photo credit Chris Spears

Riley Kugel put his name in the transfer portal Wednesday. It wasn’t exactly unexpected as his playing time and productivity diminished in the final month of the season to the point Kugel didn’t even play in Florida’s win over Texas A&M and championship game loss to Auburn in the SEC Tournament.

For reasons that perhaps only Riley Kugel and Todd Golden know for sure, there were issues. On the court, Kugel was wildly inconsistent although he had the ability to take games over at either end. Fingers have been pointed at Kugel for attitude issues and others say there was a personality conflict with Golden that was never resolved.

Whatever the reason Kugel is leaving along with Tyrese Samuel and Zyon Pullin who have used up their eligibility. Walter Clayton Jr. could declare for the NBA Draft although most expect him to return for his senior season. Assuming Clayton returns, the Gators have eight on scholarship and one signed incoming freshman (Isaiah Brown, 6-6, 200, Orlando, FL Orlando Christian Prep). The Gators have a commitment from Olivier Rioux (7-7, 300, Montreal, Canada/Bradenton, FL IMG Academy) who has talked about re-classifying to join the team for the 2024-25 season but there is nothing official.

If Rioux reclassifies and Clayton returns, the Gators will have room for three transfers. If he remains at IMG for one more year, the Gators will have room for four from the portal.

Here is a look at the roster as it stands today and then a look at 20 potential transfers.

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)

Potential transfers

Point guards

Dug McDaniel, Michigan (5-11, 175, SO): He wore the Gators out in December. He can score, pass and defend. Averaged 16.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.

Dionte Bostick, Cal State-Northridge (6-2, 190, JR): He’s from Clearwater, which is a plus. He’s also from the Big West Conference. So was Zyon Pullin, how’d that work out? Averaged 15.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

Zeke Mayo, South Dakota State (6-3, 200, JR): He’s a very physical point who can score. Averaged 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 39.1 percent from three.

Drew Thelwell, Morehead State (6-3, 190, SR): He’s from Orlando. Averaged 10 points, three rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. Super against a press and a great passer.

Malik Mack, Harvard (6-1, 180, FR): He’s one of the hotter names among point guards because he can score, pass and has three years of remaining eligibility. As a freshman averaged 17.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

Leland Walker, Eastern Kentucky (6-1, 185, SO): Super quick and 6-1 might be a stretch but he’s productive. Averaged 15.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Jordan Sears, UT-Martin (5-11, 175, SR): He’s from Daytona Beach Mainland and has scored 1,654 points in his collegiate career. Last season averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Shot 43.2 percent from the 3-point line and 83.9 percent from the foul line. Gets to the line frequently.

Small forwards/big guards

J’Vonne Hadley, Colorado (6-6, 200, JR): He lit up the Gators in Indianapolis. He hit 41.7 percent from three while averaging 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

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. Same school that sent Will Richard to UF. Gators are very much on his radar.

Rytis Petraitis, Air Force (6-7, 200, SO): His game is quite similar to Baylor Scheierman, who led Creighton to the Sweet 16. He scores (15.7 points), rebounds (6.3) and passes (3.7) at a very high level. Very intelligent guy who is a plug and play guy. Just put him on the court and he’ll find a place.

Terrence Edwards, James Madison (6-6, 190, SR): He’s a slasher from Atlanta who can get to the rim off the bounce and has a nice midrange jumper. Defends and distributes well above average. Averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

Tyrin Lawrence, Vanderbilt (6-4, 200, SR): It was rumored that he was coming to Florida last year before being convinced to return to Vandy. Averaged 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds. Streaky shooter who shouldn’t be left alone in the corner.

BJ Freeman, Milwaukee (6-6, 200, SR): He’s more scorer than shooter, but he can light it up from the outside when he gets on a roll. Gets to the foul line a lot. He’s almost a point forward. Averaged 21.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Michael James, Louisville (6-6, 200, SO): He’s a slasher who gets to the rim regularly. Streaky outside shooter. Played high school ball at Orlando Oak Ridge. Averaged 12.6 points and 5.0 rebounds as a redshirt sophomore last season.  

Big guys

Lynn Kidd, Virginia Tech (6-10, 240, SR): This is a Gainesville kid that the previous head coach didn’t recruit all that hard. He put it together at VaTech last season, averaging 13.2 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 68 percent from the field.

Eddie Lambkin, Colorado (6-11, 300, SR): He’s a brute who was just too physical for Florida’s big guys in the NCAA first round game. Averaged 10.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Would be a nice replacement for Tyrese Samuel.

Joshua Jefferson, Saint Mary’s (6-8, 225, SO): He bangs, defends and played for Todd Golden’s college coach/mentor, Randy Bennett. Averaged 10.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Not much of an outside shooter but bangs the boards hard. TWO years of eligibility.

Justin Abson, Appalachian State (6-9, 240, SO): Rim protector from Pompano Beach who averaged 7.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game for the Sun Belt champs. Shot 61 percent from the field.

Maxime Reynaud, Stanford (7-1, 240, JR): In Todd Golden-think, this is what a big guy should be. He’s long, he’s mobile and can shoot and make a 3-pointer if you give him space. Averaged 15.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He’s from France so he’s not bound to any particular region in the US.

Sam Alexis, Chattanooga (6-9, 240, SO): When he signed out of Apopka, he was a skinny 190. He’s 240 now and a serious rim protector who averaged 10.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game.

SEC in the Sweet 16

Thursday: Alabama (23-11) vs. North Carolina (29-7), West Region

Friday: Creighton (25-9) vs. Tennessee (26-8), Midwest Region

SEC in the basketball transfer portal

Alabama: PG Houston Mallette (6-5, 180, JR) from Pepperdine

Arkansas: PG Keon Menifield (6-1, 150, SO); F Denijay Harris (6-7, 200, SR); WG Joseph Pinion (6-6, 195, SO)

Auburn: WG KD Johnson (6-1, 190, SR)

FLORIDA: SG Riley Kugel (6-5, 206, SO)

LSU: SF Mwani Wilkerson (6-5, 205, SO)

Mississippi State: PG Andrew Taylor (6-3, 190, SR); SG Trey Fort III (6-4, 195, JR)

Missouri: PF Jacob Crews (6-8, 210, JR), from UT-Martin; SG Curt Lewis (6-5, 215, JR)

Oklahoma: Otega Oweh (6-5, 210, SO)

Ole Miss: PF Rashaud Marshall (6-9, 220, FR) to Arkansas State; C Malique Ewin (6-10, 240)

South Carolina: PG Meechie Johnson (6-2, 184, JR); CG Ebrima Dibba (6-5, 214, SR)

Texas: SF Alex Anamekwe (6-6, 200, SO)

Vanderbilt: PG Paul Lewis (6-2, 170, SO); C Lee Dort (6-10, 245, SO); SG Tyrin Lawrence (6-4, 200, SR); PF Colin Smith (6-8, 220); SG Jason Rivera-Torres (6-6, 180, FR)

SEC FOOTBALL/BASKETBALL STUFF

Alabama: Latrell Wrightsell Jr. will be a game time decision tonight when Alabama faces North Carolina in a West Region Sweet 16 game. Wrightsell is a 44.3 percent 3-point shooter.

Georgia: As punishment for his DUI arrest, Trevor Etienne will be suspended for the fourth quarter of the Georgia spring game.

Kentucky: Athletic director Mitch Barnhart confirmed that John Calipari will be back for his 16th season as the UK basketball coach.

LSU: Wide receiver Malik Nabers ran a 4.35 in the 40 and posted a 42-inch vertical at the LSU Pro Day.

Ole Miss: Former Florida EDGE Princely Umanmielen

South Carolina: Point guard Meechie Johnson is expected to transfer back to Ohio State where he played two seasons before transferring to South Carolina.

Vanderbilt: The new basketball coach is Mark Byington, formerly of James Madison. Byington has a 213-133 career record as head coach at Georgia Southern and JMU.  

UF MEN’S SWIMMING: Gators, California tied for 1st at NCAA Championships

The foursome of Adam Chaney, Julian Smith, Josh Liendo and Maguire McDuff set an NCAA record with a 1:20.15 to win the 200 medley relay as the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships got under way in Indianapolis. The Gators finished fourth in the 800 free relay.

After one day, Florida and California share the top spot with 70 points each while Arizona State is close behind with 68.

Day one top 10: 1. (TIE) FLORIDA and California 70; 3. Arizona State 68; 4. Indiana 52; 5. (TIE) Texas and North Carolina State 50; 7. Stanford 46; 8. Georgia 34; 9. Auburn 30; 10. Virginia Tech 28

UF LACROSSE: Gators smack Liberty, 23-3

The Gators won their 10th straight game at Donald Dizney Stadium Wednesday afternoon, crushing Liberty, 23-3, for their first win by 20 or more since 2018. Leading the way for the 11th-ranked Gators (10-2) was Maggi Hall, who had two goals and five assists. Danielle Pavinelli had three goals and two assists while Madison Waters and Lea Flobeck each scored three goals.

The Gators will travel to Nashville Saturday for an American Athletic Conference game with Vanderbilt.  

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: NIL as we now know, actually stands for Now It’s Legal and we’ll find that out when the transfer portal opens up for football on April 16. When the 15-day window officially opens a player can transfer anywhere he wants without restrictions and a school can pay a player whatever he wants. As Matt Hayes points out at Saturday Down South, “Beginning April 16, there will be – in the parlance of NFL free agency – legal tampering until the beginning of the 2024 season. Because there are no NCAA rules governing tampering, and the last thing the NCAA wants to do is try to legislate it and lose in court again.”

To put it another way so that even the Boy Scouts among us can understand, all hell is about to break loose and there is nothing to stop it in the way of the NCAA. The NCAA and its current nimnul of a president, Charlie Baker, believe the United States Congress should offer solutions. A rather good analogy of expecting the Congress to do anything useful can be found in this quote from Clint Eastwood: "Participating in a gun buy-back program because you think criminals have too many guns is like having yourself castrated because you think the neighbors have too many kids.”

There is always the hope that someone with a bright enough mind and a charismatic enough personality will step to the front and offer a solution that brings a measure of common sense to the table regarding the future of football and collegiate athletics in general. If the solution involves either the NCAA or our Congress, it is doomed to fail. If it involves ditching the NCAA for a brand new organization with a brand new set of rules, then there is hope for the future. Say a prayer. College sports need all the prayers they can get.