Florida's Elite Recruiting Rankings

[TigerMoving]

Interesting to see how these guys were viewed before getting experience in a quality system:

Walter Clayton Jr - #69 transfer (#17 PG)
Thomas Haugh - NR 3 star
Alex Condon - NR 3 star
Alijah Martin - #129 transfer
Will Richard - #46 transfer
Rueben Chinyelu - #104 transfer

Florida is dominating college basketball with ZERO elite recruits. Coaching, fit and development are still the best way to win.

Same with Houston.

 

[Titpwhami2014]

Fit is everything. Why I trust Pope will make the right moves.

 

[Aike]

Shhhhh. You’ll spoil all the misery.

 

[Crawfords Corner]

You could definitely see when watching Iona that Clayton could be a heck of a shooter. What you couldn't tell was that the guy had such a killer instinct. He wasn't playing the top dogs of college basketball then. I hope he can carry that to the NBA. He deserves it. I still hope Houston kicks his ***. If UK cant do I dont want any SEC teams winning it. They wouldn't root for us.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Just shows it's a crap shoot and gonna vary from season to season to who gets lucky on transfer recruits they sign and how they mesh chemistry wise.

 

[Farsight]

Interesting perspective. I was wondering what their rankings were. If Todd Golden wins his first title on Monday, he's gonna be the hottest name in college basketball.

If Pope doesn't work out (I think he will), I think Golden would be the first get for most of the BBN.

However, the more realistic thing is, Hubert Davis is not a great coach and could only do it with Roy's boys. I have a sneaky feeling Golden would go UNCheat in a few years when Davis sucks it up. Or even Duke if Schyer can't do anything.

 

[gbl97]

Alijah Martin is what Oweh needs to be next year.

 

[Trinity45]

Interesting to see how these guys were viewed before getting experience in a quality system:

Walter Clayton Jr - #69 transfer (#17 PG)
Thomas Haugh - NR 3 star
Alex Condon - NR 3 star
Alijah Martin - #129 transfer
Will Richard - #46 transfer
Rueben Chinyelu - #104 transfer

Florida is dominating college basketball with ZERO elite recruits. Coaching, fit and development are still the best way to win.

Same with Houston.

 

[Trinity45]

These rankings for the most part are crap, Cal proved you can't win with 5 star freshmen unless you have exactly the right pieces. Teams win championships not one star player, hell Duke has the number one pick and he couldn't beat Houston down the stretch.

 

[qwesley]

Great scouting and teambuilding overall but Clayton being absolutely elite is what takes them to another level. We will see if Golden can replicate this.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Todd Golden might be the next coaching star. Will be interesting to see if he eventually jumps to the NBA

 

[gbl97]

Todd Golden might be the next coaching star. Will be interesting to see if he eventually jumps to the NBA

It's interesting that Pearl and Pitino are coaches of the year, but not Golden.

 

[ukcatz12]

Interesting perspective. I was wondering what their rankings were. If Todd Golden wins his first title on Monday, he's gonna be the hottest name in college basketball.

If Pope doesn't work out (I think he will), I think Golden would be the first get for most of the BBN.

However, the more realistic thing is, Hubert Davis is not a great coach and could only do it with Roy's boys. I have a sneaky feeling Golden would go UNCheat in a few years when Davis sucks it up. Or even Duke if Schyer can't do anything.

I have no idea why Golden would leave Florida even if he doesn't win Monday. in 2025 I firmly believe that jobs like Florida are the best jobs in the sport for great coaches to be. You have more than enough resources to win but the expectations aren't high enough for the pressure to be crushing and that gives you job security. Drew is never getting fired at Baylor and he won them a title. He'll get the court named after him. Billy Donovan is a god in Florida, at UK he would have just been another name on a long list of great coaches and probably would have been on the hot seat after a decade no matter what he did.

Golden is setting that up for himself at Florida with how things are looking.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Interesting perspective. I was wondering what their rankings were. If Todd Golden wins his first title on Monday, he's gonna be the hottest name in college basketball.

If Pope doesn't work out (I think he will), I think Golden would be the first get for most of the BBN.

However, the more realistic thing is, Hubert Davis is not a great coach and could only do it with Roy's boys. I have a sneaky feeling Golden would go UNCheat in a few years when Davis sucks it up. Or even Duke if Schyer can't do anything.

Why leave Florida when u can already compete for and win a title there? Assuming they win tomorrow.

It would be bad news for everyone if he ends up at a unc or Duke.

 

[The_Catfather]

Handlogten wasn't highly regarded either. Signed with Marshall out of high school. Doesn't score hardly at all but is a physical presence off the bench and grabs a few boards a game.

I'd like to see us take a flyer on a 7-footer that can play a few minutes a game just in case Malachi Moreno isn't ready. I'm high on Moreno but we need more size as it is.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Interesting perspective. I was wondering what their rankings were. If Todd Golden wins his first title on Monday, he's gonna be the hottest name in college basketball.

If Pope doesn't work out (I think he will), I think Golden would be the first get for most of the BBN.

However, the more realistic thing is, Hubert Davis is not a great coach and could only do it with Roy's boys. I have a sneaky feeling Golden would go UNCheat in a few years when Davis sucks it up. Or even Duke if Schyer can't do anything.

I mean he’s at Florida, not at Jacksonville State. If he leaves I think it’ll be for the NBA, like Donovan. Florida is in the best conference in a great recruiting state with all the resources you could want.

 

[LadyCaytIL]

I have no idea why Golden would leave Florida even if he doesn't win Monday. in 2025 I firmly believe that jobs like Florida are the best jobs in the sport for great coaches to be. You have more than enough resources to win but the expectations aren't high enough for the pressure to be crushing and that gives you job security. Drew is never getting fired at Baylor and he won them a title. He'll get the court named after him. Billy Donovan is a god in Florida, at UK he would have just been another name on a long list of great coaches and probably would have been on the hot seat after a decade no matter what he did.

Golden is setting that up for himself at Florida with how things are looking.

I have cousins and 2nd cousins that are boosters of UF, Bama, Notre Dame, Kansas and several others, I assure you , with NIL , every place that wants to win has extreme pressure now. These rich people demand heads roll if all that money given to NIL ends up in disappointment (look at Miami, one bad year and they forced him to retire)

 

[Aike]

Just shows it's a crap shoot and gonna vary from season to season to who gets lucky on transfer recruits they sign and how they mesh chemistry wise.

Is that what it shows? Could it possibly show the proper execution of Todd Golden’s plan?

Not saying no luck is involved, but I don’t think it’s all luck or even mostly luck.

 

[UK_BlueBlood]

Interesting to see how these guys were viewed before getting experience in a quality system:

Walter Clayton Jr - #69 transfer (#17 PG)
Thomas Haugh - NR 3 star
Alex Condon - NR 3 star
Alijah Martin - #129 transfer
Will Richard - #46 transfer
Rueben Chinyelu - #104 transfer

Florida is dominating college basketball with ZERO elite recruits. Coaching, fit and development are still the best way to win.

Same with Houston.

Yes, and it’s worth remembering that we beat Florida this season.

 

[Mike-D]

The tournament format requires some luck, obviously... But you have to assemble a team capable of making a run, and Florida did that. Florida probably should have lost to Texas Tech, but great teams find ways to win.

 

[DelkBowl]

And apparently a 6 man rotation. That’s incredible.

 

[Jamal Mercer]

This is a tough read for all the posters that only want Pope going after the top 15 portal guys

 

[K_TIME]

Interesting to see how these guys were viewed before getting experience in a quality system:

Walter Clayton Jr - #69 transfer (#17 PG)
Thomas Haugh - NR 3 star
Alex Condon - NR 3 star
Alijah Martin - #129 transfer
Will Richard - #46 transfer
Rueben Chinyelu - #104 transfer

Florida is dominating college basketball with ZERO elite recruits. Coaching, fit and development are still the best way to win.

Same with Houston.

If this is a veiled shot at fans throwing shade at Pope's portal haul......it's a bad shot

1. Lowe as a So at Pitt show 36%FG and 26% 3pt...>Clayton shot 45% FG and 43%3pt as a So at Iona....those two portal guards are eons apart.
2. Pope has whiffed at Center (Gwath), PF (Caleb Wilson, UAB kid) and I'd argue the PG has been a whiff to settle back on Lowe.....He did appear to hit a top kid in Kam Williams at wing.
3. Florida is Florida....Kentucky is whole different job...Pope has no excuse to be whiffinjg like this at UK with all the resources vs. Golden at Florida

 

[Jamal Mercer]

If this is a veiled shot at fans throwing shade at Pope's portal haul......it's a bad shot

1. Lowe as a So at Pitt show 36%FG and 26% 3pt...>Clayton shot 45% FG and 43%3pt as a So at Iona....those two portal guards are eons apart.
2. Pope has whiffed at Center (Gwath), PF (Caleb Wilson, UAB kid) and I'd argue the PG has been a whiff to settle back on Lowe.....He did appear to hit a top kid in Kam Williams at wing.
3. Florida is Florida....Kentucky is whole different job...Pope has no excuse to be whiffinjg like this at UK with all the resources vs. Golden at Florida

Two groups of people love to be miserable these days.

1. Left wingers
2. Kentucky fans that want Cal back because there was a cute little #1 or #2 next to recruits names

 

[kyhoward]

Alijah Martin is what Oweh needs to be next year.

Needs to work on his shot and most definitely his ball handling. He does not dribble but chases the ball. I love him as a player but he would be All American caliber should he improve in these 2 areas.

 

[K_TIME]

Two groups of people love to be miserable these days.

1. Left wingers
2. Kentucky fans that want Cal back because there was a cute little #1 or #2 next to recruits names

Yawn....at this stuff.

I have never had a desire for Cal to come back and win recruiting wars that were pointless.......But to do a dumpster dive on Lowe and not be able to call this bad of a shooter as a PG is not hard to argue Pope isn't executing on the job in year 2 thus far.

 

[cats#1again]

Interesting to see how these guys were viewed before getting experience in a quality system:

Walter Clayton Jr - #69 transfer (#17 PG)
Thomas Haugh - NR 3 star
Alex Condon - NR 3 star
Alijah Martin - #129 transfer
Will Richard - #46 transfer
Rueben Chinyelu - #104 transfer

Florida is dominating college basketball with ZERO elite recruits. Coaching, fit and development are still the best way to win.

Same with Houston.

Fundamentally sound. Their bigs not being ranked should tell you all you need to know about rankings. Most are based on who can jump the highest and best chance of being drafted

 

[cats#1again]

Alijah Martin is what Oweh needs to be next year.

Oweh was 2nd team all sec this year

 

[cats#1again]

Todd Golden might be the next coaching star. Will be interesting to see if he eventually jumps to the NBA

Until this season he lost 29 games his first 2 seasons at Florida. Lost 35+ in 3 years at San Francisco
I agree he looks the part but it may be the luck of Scott Drew and one great recruiting class

 

[docholiday51]

Just shows it's a crap shoot and gonna vary from season to season to who gets lucky on transfer recruits they sign and how they mesh chemistry wise.

Yeah it's going to be a year to year thing. Look at KU they tried to cherry pick the portal with
highly rated transfers and fell on their face. The portal is a crap shoot .Metrics and analytics
can't predict how players will or won't mesh.

 

[USARMYWILDCAT]

Interesting to see how these guys were viewed before getting experience in a quality system:

Walter Clayton Jr - #69 transfer (#17 PG)
Thomas Haugh - NR 3 star
Alex Condon - NR 3 star
Alijah Martin - #129 transfer
Will Richard - #46 transfer
Rueben Chinyelu - #104 transfer

Florida is dominating college basketball with ZERO elite recruits. Coaching, fit and development are still the best way to win.

Same with Houston.

This is also why I think the SEC is going to take a big step back next season. Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Florida…. got lucky on mid major hits in the portal, that will not always happen. I expect them all to take steps back next year. What’s the chances of Alabama and Auburn getting a Booth and Sears again from a mid major? Seriously doubt they will find All Americans like they did the last two years. Tennessee doesn’t look like they have a Dalton Knecth coming in and they are loosing a lot. There luck will run out on mid major hits eventually. They will be good but there luck of hitting on All Americans threw the portal won’t last forever.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Until this season he lost 29 games his first 2 seasons at Florida. Lost 35+ in 3 years at San Francisco
I agree he looks the part but it may be the luck of Scott Drew and one great recruiting class

Thought they were very well coached last year when they came into Rupp and beat us

 

[TheAnonymous13]

I don’t follow portal rankings, but anyone who paid any attention … knew Walter Clayton was one of the best players on the market.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Todd Golden might be the next coaching star. Will be interesting to see if he eventually jumps to the NBA

Agent: “We are hearing a lot of buzz for you from the Lakers front office. Can you make yourself available?”

Todd: “Will there be co-eds?”

 

[TheAnonymous13]

Interesting perspective. I was wondering what their rankings were. If Todd Golden wins his first title on Monday, he's gonna be the hottest name in college basketball.

If Pope doesn't work out (I think he will), I think Golden would be the first get for most of the BBN.

However, the more realistic thing is, Hubert Davis is not a great coach and could only do it with Roy's boys. I have a sneaky feeling Golden would go UNCheat in a few years when Davis sucks it up. Or even Duke if Schyer can't do anything.

I think you’ll see coaches make decisions based upon their NIL situation.
Golden has it set up really well at Florida. I don’t suspect he leaves any time soon, and only for the nba.

 

[truckbrandon]

Many of us could tell that Golden was gonna be great last year. We were laughed at when we mentioned him as a candidate for the UK job. Saying that, I love Pope... he brings something that Golden couldn't. Let's just hope he can bring home the banners.

 

[tj4fun]

Great scouting and teambuilding overall but Clayton being absolutely elite is what takes them to another level. We will see if Golden can replicate this.

They should have lost to TT. Clayton hit some crazy shots there as well! So there is some level of luck involved as well, Like harrisons 3 ball! But you have to put yourself in that position with talent. Then you give yourself a chance.

 

[Aike]

Many of us could tell that Golden was gonna be great last year. We were laughed at when we mentioned him as a candidate for the UK job. Saying that, I love Pope... he brings something that Golden couldn't. Let's just hope he can bring home the banners.

I was one of the people mentioning Golden for our job. Don’t remember many laughing, but you’re probably right. Adolph Rupp could come back to life and some around here would question the hire.

 

[cats#1again]

Thought they were very well coached last year when they came into Rupp and beat us

Oh you could definitely see it. I told my father I law this Clayton Jr kid is one of the best shot makers I've ever seen. Time will tell how good Golden is but I expect them to be good