7-foot center Jones Lay commits to Florida

Jones Lay, a three-star center in the 2026 class, has committed to reigning national champions Florida, he told Rivals.

The 7-foot, 230-pound big man out of Moravian Prep (NC) is the No. 142 overall player in the class, according to Rivals. He’s also the No. 20 ranked center and the No. 3 player in North Carolina.

Along with the reigning national champs, Lay also received offers from South Carolina, Bryant, Loyola Marymount, George Mason, Old Dominion, and others.

Lay on his commitment to Florida

Jones Lay discussed his commitment to the Gators with Rivals.

“I chose Florida because I think it is where I myself can have the most success.”

What led to his trust in the coaching staff?

“Just building great relationships with all the coaches really helped me trust the staff.”

In his own words, what type of player is Florida getting in Lay?

“I would describe my game as kind of doing all the dirty work like rebounding, blocking shots and just doing what it takes to help the team win.”

He has a message for Florida fans.

“Gator boys stay hot!”

Lay is the first commitment for the Gators in the 2026 class. They recently hosted four-star small forward Cole Cloer (No. 28 NATL) for an official visit. Florida is also set to host four-star SG Jasiah Jervis (No. 39 NATL) and five-star small forward Caleb Gaskins in the month of October.