UCLA men's basketball has signed high school recruits Joe Philon and Javonte Floyd for the 2026-27 season. Both players will enroll in summer classes and join the team as freshmen.
Key points
UCLA signed Joe Philon and Javonte Floyd for 2026-27 season
Philon is a 6-foot-8 forward from Tampa, Florida
Floyd is a 6-foot-9 center from Atlanta, Georgia
Both players will enroll in summer classes
They had offers from other programs, including Big Ten schools
Mentioned in this story
UCLATampa, FloridaAtlanta, Georgia
Joe PhilonJavonte Floyd
Montverde Academy Eagles forward Joe Philon (1) shoots the ball as Gillion Academy Lions center Marcis Ponder (11) guards him during the second quarter of a City of Palms Classic Signature Series game at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla., on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.
Montverde Academy Eagles forward Joe Philon (1) shoots the ball as Gillion Academy Lions center Marcis Ponder (11) guards him during the second quarter of a City of Palms Classic Signature Series game at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla., on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.
UCLA men’s basketball signed two high school senior recruits, Joe “Jojo” Philon and Javonte Floyd, on Wednesday. The pair of incoming freshman will enroll in summer sessions classes during the summer and join the Bruins for the 2026-27 season.
“We are excited to welcome Javonte and Jojo to the Bruin family,” said UCLA head coach Mick Cronin.
𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐉𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐣𝐨!
The Bruins have signed high school seniors Javonte Floyd (Atlanta, Ga.) and Joe “Jojo” Philon (Tampa, Fla.). The duo will join UCLA as incoming freshmen in 2026-27.
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) April 15, 2026
Philon and Floyd are the only two high school commitments UCLA has going into next season. The Bruins will have three new transfers in guard Jaylen Petty and forwards Sergej Macura and Filip Jovic. The remaining five players on the 2026-27 roster will be returning players.
What Do The Freshmen Bring to UCLA?
Philon is a 6-foot-8, four-star forward for Tampa, Florida. As a senior at Montverde Academy, he averaged 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game and led the team to the championship game of the 2026 Chipotle High School Nationals.
“Jojo is an elite athlete on the wing who fits exactly the profile we look for at that position. He comes from one of the most competitive high school programs in the country, at Montverde Academy, and that experience has him well-prepared for what we expect at UCLA,” Cronin said.
Montverde Academy Eagles forward Joe Philon (1) shoots the ball as Gillion Academy Lions center Marcis Ponder (11) guards him during the second quarter of a City of Palms Classic Signature Series game at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla., on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.
Meanwhile, Floyd is a 6-foot-9 center from Atlanta, Georgia. He averaged 11.4 points per game during his senior season at Cedar Grove High School. Throughout his entire high school career, he totaled more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
“Javonte is a young man with a very bright future ahead of him. He is explosive off the floor, a natural rim runner, and a disruptive shot blocker. We believe he has the makings of a genuinely exciting player here at UCLA,” Cronin said.
Both players had offers from other programs, including Big Ten rivals. Philon from Ohio State, while Floyd from Iowa, Penn State and Purdue.
*Photo Credit: Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images*
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Q&A
Who are the new recruits for UCLA men's basketball in 2026-27?
The new recruits are Joe 'Jojo' Philon from Tampa, Florida, and Javonte Floyd from Atlanta, Georgia.
What are Joe Philon's stats from high school?
Joe Philon averaged 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game during his senior season at Montverde Academy.
What are Javonte Floyd's accomplishments in high school basketball?
Javonte Floyd scored over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds throughout his high school career and averaged 11.4 points per game in his senior season.
Which other programs offered scholarships to Philon and Floyd?
Joe Philon received an offer from Ohio State, while Javonte Floyd had offers from Iowa, Penn State, and Purdue.
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Montverde Academy Eagles forward Joe Philon (1) shoots the ball as Gillion Academy Lions center Marcis Ponder (11) guards him during the second quarter of a City of Palms Classic Signature Series game at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla., on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.