Everyone thought Todd Golden was just a numbers guy when he rolled into Gainesville. A Silicon Valley export bringing spreadsheets to the Swamp. But look at this Florida basketball roster 2024, and you’ll see it’s not just a math project. It’s a group of giants and bucket-getters that basically bullied their way to a national title.
Honestly, the chemistry of this squad shouldn't have worked on paper. You’ve got a 7-foot-9 freshman from Canada, a bunch of transfers who were "too small" for high-major ball three years ago, and an Australian sophomore who plays like his hair is on fire. Somehow, they turned the O’Dome back into a house of horrors for the SEC.
The Three Kings of the Backcourt
If you want to understand why the Gators finished 36–4, you have to look at the three guards who essentially lived in each other's pockets all season. Walter Clayton Jr. is the engine. Period. Coming out of Bartow, people thought he was a football player first. He proved them wrong by dropping 18.3 points per game and hitting some of the most ridiculous step-back threes you've ever seen.
Then there is Will Richard. He’s the glue. Every team needs a guy who is 6-foot-5, doesn't care about his own stats, and locks up the opponent's best player. He averaged about 13 a game, but his value was in those corner threes that killed every opponent's momentum.
Alijah Martin was the final piece of that puzzle. A grad transfer from FAU, he brought that "Final Four" DNA that this roster desperately needed. He’s built like a linebacker and plays with a physical chip on his shoulder that changed Florida’s defensive identity. Last year, the defense was kinda soft. This year? Top 10 in the country.
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Who is actually on the floor?
- Walter Clayton Jr. (#1): Senior guard, 6-2. The local legend.
- Alijah Martin (#15): Grad student, 6-2. Physical beast from Florida Atlantic.
- Will Richard (#5): Senior guard, 6-4. The most consistent shooter on the team.
- Alex Condon (#21): Sophomore forward, 6-11. From Perth, Australia. He’s the future of the program.
- Thomas Haugh (#10): Sophomore forward, 6-9. A "Swiss Army Knife" player who does everything.
- Rueben Chinyelu (#9): Sophomore center, 6-11. A transfer from Washington State who just vacuums up rebounds.
The Big Men and the 7-foot-9 Question
Let’s talk about Olivier Rioux. You’ve probably seen the TikToks. He is 7-foot-9. Yes, you read that right. While he didn't play massive minutes during the heat of the SEC schedule, just having him on the Florida basketball roster 2024 changed how people looked at this team. He’s officially the tallest teenager in the world.
But the real meat of the frontcourt came from the "Aussie-Nigerian Connection." Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu are a nightmare for anyone trying to score in the paint. Condon is incredibly mobile for a guy nearly 7 feet tall. He can pass, he can shoot the occasional three, and he blocks shots at a rate that makes guards think twice about driving.
Micah Handlogten’s story is also wild. He broke his leg in a horrific way during the 2024 SEC Tournament. Most people thought he was done for the year. Instead, he worked his way back and provided crucial depth when the team was making its run through the tournament. That’s the kind of toughness Golden recruited.
Why This Group Was Different
People keep talking about the "transfer portal" like it's a cheat code. It's not. If you get the wrong personalities, your locker room becomes a disaster. Golden managed to find guys like Sam Alexis (from Chattanooga) and Denzel Aberdeen who were willing to come off the bench and play limited minutes for the sake of winning.
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Denzel Aberdeen is a perfect example. He’s an Orlando kid who could start at 90% of the schools in the country. Instead, he stayed, waited his turn, and became the spark plug off the bench. He averaged nearly 8 points a game despite not being a primary starter for most of the year.
The Numbers Behind the Madness
The Gators weren't just winning; they were obliterating people.
They averaged 84.8 points per game. That’s 5th in the entire country.
They also finished 1st in the Final AP Poll.
The most impressive stat? They went 13–0 in non-conference play. They took down North Carolina, Virginia, and Arizona State before they even hit the SEC gauntlet. By the time they got to the NCAA Tournament as a 1-seed, they were playing with a level of confidence we haven't seen in Gainesville since the Billy Donovan era.
What’s Next for the Gators?
Now that the 2024-25 season has wrapped up with a trophy in the case, the roster is shifting again. We know Walter Clayton Jr. is headed to the NBA. Same for Alijah Martin. The "Transfer Trio" that saved Florida basketball has graduated.
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But the foundation is there. Condon and Haugh are returning as juniors. They just added Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee through the portal for the 2025-26 run.
If you’re looking to follow the team moving forward, keep an eye on the development of the younger guys like Isaiah Brown and the incoming freshmen. The era of Florida being a "fringe" tournament team is over. Todd Golden has turned this into a destination program again.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the official Florida Gators website for the updated 2025-26 schedule releases.
- Watch the NBA Draft coverage to see where Walter Clayton Jr. lands; his stock is at an all-time high.
- Keep tabs on the "Gator Collective" or local NIL news to see how they're keeping the core together for next year's title defense.