Alex Condon returns to Florida; will Rueben Chinyelu, Thomas Haugh follow?

(Mike Carlson/Getty Images North America/TNS)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida power forward Alex Condon will return for his senior season to help the Gators try to avenge their disappointing NCAA Tournament exit and boost his NBA draft stock, a source confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel.

Condon entered his name into the draft following Florida’s 2025 national title run, but withdrew after uncertainty about being selected in the 20-to-35 pick range in the 60-player draft.

Rather than explore his professional options again this spring, the 6-foot-11, 236-pound Australian will lead another push for a national title in 2027 under coach Todd Golden.

Condon was at this best down the stretch, culminating with a disappointing 73-72 loss to Iowa in the NCAAs second round. He scored 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting — his sixth 20-point performance during Florida’s final 10 games — while adding seven assists and five rebounds.

A preseason first-team Associated Press All-America, Condon earned second-team All-SEC honors after finishing second on the team with averages of 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds, while leading Florida with 48 blocked shots.

Still, there are areas to improve.

Condon shot just 17% (9 of 53) from 3-point range — down from 32.8% (19 of 58) the previous season — and finished at 64.9% from the foul line after hitting 5 of 9 against Iowa. He also had multiple high-turnover games as the Gators often ran their offense through him. He committed six turnovers in a season-opening loss to Arizona, five against Vanderbilt during a 91-74 loss in the SEC Tournament semifinals and had a season-high seven turnovers in a win at Georgia.

Condon’s return is a major boost to Golden’s efforts to quickly build his 2026-27 roster.

Guard Denzel Aberdeen also announced his surprising return after spending last season at Kentucky. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound former Dr. Philips standout has applied for an NCAA waiver for a fifth season as he aims to join a backcourt featuring Boogie Fland, Urban Klavzar, Isaiah Brown, AJ Brown and Alex Lloyd.

Aberdeen appeared in 12 games and logged just 41 minutes as a true freshman in 2022-23, making a case to be granted a fifth season.

Two major decisions loom: center Rueben Chinyelu and first-team All-SEC forward Thomas Haugh.

The 6-foot-10, 265-pound Chinyelu led power-conference players with an average of 11.2 rebounds and set a school-record with 19 double-doubles. Another season could help develop his offensive game and improve his first-round draft prospects.

The 6-foot-9, 215-pound Haugh was a third-team All-America selection who projects as a first-round pick in June after he averaged a team-leading 17.1 points, along with 6.1 rebounds. Yet, the Iowa loss and strong ties to the program could factor into his possible return.

UF did lose reserve center Micah Handlogten, who entered the transfer portal seeking a fifth season. The 7-foot-1, 260-pound Handlogten averaged 4.2 points and six rebounds — 2.8 on the offensive end — while also blocking 69 shots in 86 games, including 34 starts at UF.

Like Aberdeen, Handlogten seeks an NCAA eligibility waiver because he played in just 40% of Florida’s games two seasons ago when UF won the national championship.

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