Todd Golden breaks down unique recruiting advantages thanks to winning national title

Florida captured its third national title in program history in April, capping a remarkable run. It came in coach Todd Golden‘s third season in charge.

More importantly, it put Florida squarely back on the national radar. Getting players at this point should be a relative breeze.

“Absolutely. And now obviously because of the success we’ve had last season, now more than ever I think guys really understand that our program’s really tailor-made to come in and get better,” Golden explained on ESPN2 while taking in the 2025 NBA Combine. “Not just go play, but our guys get better from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.”

That was certainly the case for just about everyone on the roster. Walter Clayton went from being a very good guard a year ago to a First Team All-American — the first in program history — as a senior in 2024-25.

Alex Condon went from a little-known big from Australia to a potential first-round NBA Draft pick. He’s still mulling over his draft decision at the moment.

Others also saw major leaps. Veteran guards Will Richard and Alijah Martin were both lights out and will try to carve out roles on the professional stage now. Swing man Thomas Haugh was one of the most versatile sixth men in the country.

All of it served to shine a light on Golden’s system, which is quite NBA-like and very player-friendly. That has to appeal to prospective recruits.

“The way we play, I think, is very conducive for guys having success at the NBA level,” Todd Golden explained. “We like bigs that can pass, dribble and shoot. We like guards that can attack, get in the paint, but also shoot with a lot of confidence from the 3-point line. We play fast. We expect our guys to guard. We challenge our guys to defend at a high level.”

Bottom line: Florida’s back on the major college basketball stage. With no plans of leaving. The return to having players in the NBA spotlight as the draft approaches only underscores that.

“A lot of the NBA teams are respecting what we’re doing,” Golden said. “So I think guys do want to be a part of that.”