The Jumpman Invitational showcases the best of college basketball on and off the court. By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com CHARLOTTE -- The City of Charlotte rolled out the red carpet for four of college athletics' most prominent programs again -- Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, and Oklahoma. All are synonymous with success that has led to a strong relationship with the Jordan Brand as the four original “Jumpman” schools , the men’s and women’s basketball programs which have participated in the Jumpman Invitational. which has become one of the premier events in college basketball. Downtown Charlotte was decorated with banners and signage highlighting Jordan Brand and the four schools while players are gifted with exclusive Jordan Brand apparel designed specifically for the event. Jordan executives and prominent members of the community were present, making certain the event was first class in every way. The format randomly pairs the men’s and women’s basketball teams from each program. In 2023, the inaugural year, the Gators faced the Oklahoma Sooners while the North Carolina Tar Heels faced the Michigan Wolverines. For the 2023 event Florida would meet the Michigan men and women while North Carolina would be matched against Oklahoma. No matter the matchups , the event has become a premier opportunity for all four programs to put their relationship with the Jordan Brand on full display and allow showcasing the most notable athletic shoe and apparel brand in the sports world. For the Gators, participation in such an event was another opportunity to draw attention to two of college basketball’s most impressive rebuilds. Men’s basketball coach Todd Golden, in his second season, is already drawing comparisons to legendary coach Billy Donovan for his approach to building and leading his team. Florida women's coach Kelly Rae Finley is heading towards a historic third straight postseason appearance and has assembled one of the best rosters in school history. With both programs showcased as part of this event it can only broaden the appeal of both programs. The Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, NC (GatorBait photo) Tuesday night the Florida men played the most entertaining game of the invitational against the Michigan, coached by former NBA veteran Juwan Howard. The Gators were able to overcome a nine-point deficit in the second half as Zion Pullen hit a late three to send the game into double overtime, leading the Gators to the 106-101 victory. Speaking of the hard-fought win, Golden stated, "This should give us a lot of confidence as we move forward and continue to get into the season [that] when we play tough, highly contested games against really good clubs we can find a way to win. I'm just really happy and excited for our team." Wednesday evening would be the women’s time to shine and in one of the biggest wins of the Kelly Rae Finley era as Florida dominated Michigan to complete the sweep,82-65. From the shoot-around earlier in the day the Gators were dialed in and focused on the task at hand. “It’s not about them it’s about us," guard Zippy Broughton said. “We gotta stop them from putting it in the hole." The Gators shot 57 percent from floor and 53 percent from behind the arc to complete one of their best shooting nights of the season. Senior guard Aliyah Matharu led the Gators with 27 points, including 5 of 9 from three point range. Alberte Rimdal was the team's third leading scorer with 13 points and Leilani Correa added 16 off the bench. "We really challenged our team to be who we are for 40 minutes and that’s exactly what we did tonight,” said Finley. This was the second consecutive win for the team after two tough road losses earlier this month. “The win is a testament to the work the team continues to put in despite the setbacks,” stated Finley. “I think it’s just a testament to what we do and how we are coached.," Matharu added. “It’s all about coming together and being confident in one another." Kelly Rae Finley, Leilani Correa, Aliyah Matharu and the niece of former Gator Keke Smith (GatorBait photo) When asked about what the Jumpman Invitational means to her program, Finley, whose Jordan collection has garnered national attention, was more than complimentary to the people that organize the event. “I think is the premier event in the country at this time.” “Jordan Brand does an exceptional job of celebrating our student-athletes”, Correa said in echoing her coach’s sentiment. They go out of their way to treat us like superstars.. I’ve never experienced anything like it and I’m so blessed and so fortunate to be a part of it.” #kellyskicks Jordan 1 Mid (UAA photo) The Florida men returned home Wednesday evening to prepare to host Grambling Friday afternoon at the O’Connell Center, while the women will spend Christmas with family and friends and return home to play Winthrop Dec. 30 after more than 40 days away from home.

The Gators have held a commitment from five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray since October, but that hasn't stopped others like Auburn and Florida State from making a heavy push to flip him. Despite their efforts, McCray stayed true to his initial commitment and signed with Florida on Wednesday. After losing Xavier Filsaime leading into the early signing period and then Adarius Hayes and Amaris Williams on Wednesday afternoon, it became even more crucial for the Gators to hang onto their recruits, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite some late fireworks, McCray remains loyal to Florida and gives the team an instant boost along the defensive front. The No. 2 defensive lineman in the country, according to 247Sports, gave Florida quite the scare on Wednesday as just moments before he was scheduled to sign, he announced the postponement of his decision. However, sources close to the situation said that the Gators received McCray's signed letter of intent around 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The signing was not made public until after McCray announced it on his own. McCray put together another respectable stat line over the course of his senior season. He anchored the Mainland (Fla.) defense and helped lead the team to their first state title since 2003, with 77 tackles, 37 tackles for loss and 13 sacks on the year. The main question leading into Wednesday was how the defensive coaching changes would impact McCray's decision. While Mike Peterson was the five-star's primary recruiter, Sean Spencer played a large role in his recruitment and ultimately built a good relationship with McCray. However, it's been defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong who McCray feels closest to. "I really talk to a lot of the coaches there," McCray said of Florida. "Coach Napier a lot, but I would say Coach [Sean] Spencer and Coach [Mike] Peterson have been the ones I have talked to the longest. I talk to them evenly. Since Coach Armstrong has gotten there. I probably talk to him more than anyone at Florida now. Since he's been there, I think I am one of the first guys he called." Later in the day on Wednesday, news broke that the Gators were targeting former Tulane defensive line coach Gerald Chatman to fill that role. McCray is now the 22nd player to officially sign with the Gators on Wednesday and joins DJ Lagway as the headliners of the Gators' 2024 class.

The Gators experienced yet another setback on National Signing Day as one of their wide receiver commitments decided to change his commitment.

Amidst all of the action from the start of the early signing period, the Gators added former Wisconsin wide receiver Chimere Dike from the transfer portal.

Florida fans have long been awaiting today, as DJ Lagway has officially signed his letter of intent to play for the Florida Gators. Lagway made his commitment official on Wednesday, signing with the Gators in front of friends and family at the Willis ISD Performing Arts Center. The Willis (Tx.) native has been the cornerstone of the Gators' 2024 class since he initially made his commitment in December of 2022. Since then, he has consistently reaffirmed his commitment to Florida and has made strides to help the best he could along the recruiting trail. Lagway had an incredible senior season, making highlight plays on a weekly basis en route to throwing for over 4,000 yards and 58 touchdowns. He finished the year with over 5,500 all-purpose yards and 74 touchdowns with just eight interceptions thrown throughout the season. The five-star prospect is the highest ranked Gators' recruit in the class of 2024 according to both On3 and 247Sports in addition to being the No. 2 quarterback in the nation according to both outlets. Despite what has seemed like a firm commitment for over a calendar year, Florida fans can finally take a breath of fresh air knowing that Lagway has signed his NIL. In terms of what is expected for the quarterback during his first year in Gainesville, Lagway will likely spend time in the backup role behind Graham Mertz who returns for a second year in the Orange & Blue. Mertz proved to be effective and efficient after transferring from Wisconsin, and will now have the opportunity to take Lagway under his wing and teach him using his experience. While many Gators fans may hope for Lagway to find his way under center in year one, the most beneficial path will be for him to learn, observe and absorb information on playing in the SEC and understanding Napier's system before taking over the starting role in 2025. Although this is the likely plan, the future is unknown and Lagway will undoubtedly impress in camp, so only time will tell. Lagway is ranked as the No. 4 player nationally by 247Sports and the No. 16 player nationally by On3. He is also the 13th highest graded recruit in the history of Florida football, according to 247Sports.

In the early morning roundup of National Signing Day, the Florida Gators secured commitments from several promising recruits. Let's take a closer look at all of the signings from the early slate along with some transfer signings:

The Gators have signed the majority of their 2024 recruiting class through early Wednesday afternoon, with some still set to make their decisions later in the day. Florida did add another prospect, however, with three-star ATH Gregory Smith signing his letter of intent to the University of Florida.

Entering the start of the early signing period on Wednesday, the Florida Gators held 19 commitments in their 2024 class. Two of those commits, Adarius Hayes and Amaris Williams, signed their letters of intent Wednesday, but to different programs.

Jadan Baugh, a promising running back, has officially committed to the University of Florida, choosing the Gators over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Baugh had initially committed to the University of Arkansas in May but reconsidered his options after an impressive senior season at Columbia High School, where he had 1,583 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground, along with 28 receptions for 531 yards and six touchdowns.

Leading into the early signing period, the Gators 2024 class already took a big hit with the flip of Xavier Filsaime to Texas. Now, with the early signing period officially open, Florida is in danger of another massive blow.

The Florida Gators endured another night when they could have earned a union card for all the bricks they laid from both the 3-point and foul lines. The Gators were a dismal 8-29 from 3-point range (27.6 percent) and they threw up 11 SCUDS in 29 attempts from the foul line (62.1 percent). Additionally, the Gators turned the ball over 16 times and missed 16 of their 34 layups. Defensively, the Gators had few answers for a waterbug named Dug McDaniel and they gave up way too many barely contested 3-pointers. Under most circumstances, that would be a recipe for disaster, but these are the Florida Gators we are talking about and they are a resilient bunch who, if given enough time, seem to figure out a pathway to victory. Tuesday night at the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, it took two overtimes of constant grinding, but when the final horn sounded, Florida (8-3) walked away with a 106-101 win over Michigan (6-6). “I’m just really proud of our team,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “They’ve done a really good job of executing and doing what we’re asking them to do. This should give us a lot of confidence as we move forward, as we get in these tough, highly-contested games against really good clubs that we can find a way to win.” Finding a way to win required persistence because nothing seemed to come easy for the Gators. They struggled to defend the 3-point line where Michigan hit 10-22 shots and it seemed there was no stopping McDaniel, who scored on whoever Golden assigned to him. McDaniel hit three 3-pointers, 12-13 from the foul line and finished with 33 points. Olivier Nkamhoua, who used to wear the Gators out when he was a Tennessee Vol, had 24 points with nine coming on 3-5 shooting from the 3-point line. While the Vols seemed to rain threes, the Gators specialized in banging shots off the rims but while first shots missed on a regular basis, the Gators did collect 21 offensive rebounds, which were turned into 18 second half points. Although the Gators struggled mightily from the outside, they killed the Wolverines in the paint for a whopping 60-38 margin. The Gators finished the game with 54 rebounds and further dominated the inside with 10 blocked shots. Mr. Clutch was point guard Zyon Pullin, whose 22 points included a 3-point halfcourt heave that gave the Gators a 38-37 lead at the intermission and another 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds to go that sent the game into the second overtime. Pullin finished with five rebounds, six assists and a steal and his 8-10 night at the foul line included 7-8 in the second half. Pullin’s 3-ball that sent the game to the second overtime was the result of a second chance opportunity. Michigan took an 89-86 lead with 21 seconds to go on a pair of McDaniel free throws. After a 30-second time out with 18.9 seconds to go, Walter Clayton Jr.’s 3-ball caromed off the rim but Tyrese Samuel emerged from a pack of three Wolverines with the ball. He turned and found Pullin to the left of the key and his 3-pointer found the bottom of the net. Michigan still had a chance to win the game, but Amari Burnett’s 3-pointer with 1.5  seconds to go misfired. Once in the second overtime, the Gators fell behind 93-91, but they rattled off 11 straight points to put the game away. Clayton, who struggled through regulation and the first overtime, saved his best for last, scoring seven of his 12 points including a dagger of a three with 47 seconds to go for a 102-93 lead. Although the Wolverines hit back-to-back 3-pointers to close the gap to four with 16.7 seconds left, the Gators were able to put the game away. Florida spent a good portion of the first half playing catch-up. The Gators trailed by as many as eight points and didn’t get their first lead until a Micah Handlogten dunk with 3:32 left for a 31-30 margin. Michigan held a 37-35 lead when McDaniel threw the ball away trying to lob the ball over Alex Condon. Condon picked the ball off and his outlet found Pullin streaking toward midcourt. Pullin caught the ball on the bounce and let it fly from just inside the halfcourt line with the ball banking into the basket for a 38-37 Florida lead. Michigan built a 55-46 lead with 15:06 left in the game when the Gators got into an offensive rhythm. It was a pull-up three on a fast break by Will Richard with 13:41 to go that cut Michigan’s lead to 57-53. At the 9:57 mark, Thomas Haugh tied the game at 63-63 on a 3-pointer. A Pullin layup and free throw with 7:19 left gave the Gators their first lead since the 18:26 mark at 68-65. Florida was able to build an 81-77 lead with 59 seconds to go when Richard scored on a layup and free throw, but Burnett scored to cut the margin to two. The Wolverines got the ball back on the alternating possession rule when Clayton was trapped in the corner on UF’s inbounds pass. Nkamhoua tied it up with 12 seconds to go, dunking back a miss by McDaniel. Florida got the last shot to try to win in regulation, but Condon’s 3-pointer missed at the buzzer. This win should move the Gators close to the top 50 in the all-important NCAA Net Rankings. “A neutral site game against a team that’s going to be playing for an NCAA Tournament bid,” Golden said. “I know their win-loss record isn’t great, but they’ve played one of the toughest schedules in America and they played a lot of those teams really, really close. So we knew this was going to be a big challenge for us. Obviously, this is going to be a Quad 1 or Quad 2 win. We have three of those right now. At this point last year, we had zero of them. So you can see some of the growth in our program in some of the areas where we’re covering ground.” Game notes: In addition to Pullin, the Gators had four others in double figures with Samuel finishing the night with 21 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and a steal. Richard finished with 17 points including 15 in the second half. Condon had 14 points, six rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal and Clayton had 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal. Handlogten had nine points, nine rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot. The 7-1 Marshall transfer also hit a 3-pointer. He’s now 4-4 from distance this season. The Gators return to action Friday against Grambling in a 4 p.m. game at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. After Grambling the Gators will be off for a week before returning to action at the O-Dome against Quinnipiac. SEC basketball Tuesday’s scores: FLORIDA (8-3) 106, Michigan (6-6) 101, 2 OT; No. 25 Ole Miss (11-0) 74, Troy (5-6) 53; South Carolina (10-1) 72, Winthrop (8-5) 62; Western Carolina (9-2) 63, Vanderbilt (4-7) 62 Wednesday’s games: Mount St. Mary’s (4-6) at Georgia (7-3); Alabama (6-4) vs. No. 4 Arizona (8-1) at Phoenix Thursday’s games: No. 9 Kentucky (8-2) at Louisville (5-6); Tarleton State (8-3) at No. 8 Tennessee (8-3); Abilene Christian (5-6) at Arkansas (7-4); Lamar (5-6) at LSU (6-5)