Florida star Alex Condon withdraws from NBA draft, returns to national champion Gators

Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel on May 27, 2025

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DESTIN, Fla. — Florida star Alex Condon will withdraw from the NBA draft and return to UF, giving Todd Golden’s Gators a key piece as they push to defend the 2025 national title.

The 6-foot-11, 230-pound Condon had until Wednesday to decide whether to remain eligible for the June 25 draft.

“Really thrilled to get him back,” Golden said Tuesday at SEC spring meetings. “He’s had a great process. He got great feedback from some teams. We were worried there for a little bit that he would stay in.”

The 20-year-old Aussie said he would not return to Gainesville if he were certain he’d be selected in the 20-to-35 range in the 60-player draft. Instead, Condon opted for a third college season.

The uncertainty and timing for a decision nearly a month before the draft played into Condon’s thinking.

“There’s still a month until the NBA draft, so any prospect to get a promise this far in advance would be really unique,” Golden said.

Another factor is Condon’s ability to earn money through name, image and likeness deals, as well as the pending House settlement, which will pay all student-athletes from a pool of $20.5 million.

“One of the huge benefits of the NIL world, you don’t have to sacrifice for maybe a tough of a fiscal decision between going pro or staying now,” Golden said. “Fortunately, he’s positioned himself nicely that way.”

Condon’s return gives the Gators one of the nation’s most talented and versatile frontcourts.

Also coming back are Rueben Chinyelu, a 6-foot-11, 260-pound center who also explored his professional options, 7-foot-1, 255-pound Micah Handlogten and 6-foot-9, 215-pound Thomas Haugh.

Condon led the team in rebounding (7.5 per game) and blocked shots (49), while averaging 10.6 points as a sophomore in 2024-25. His seven double-doubles led UF, while he scored in double figures 18 times and grabbed at least 10 rebounds 10 times.

He is also a talented passer who plays with a relentless energy. During the national title game against Houston, he dove on the floor to secure a loose ball as time ran off the clock during the Gators’ thrilling 65-63 win.

With the Gators’ front court well positioned, Golden is confident he has acquired players to field an elite backcourt.

Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland committed May 20 to join Princeton transfer point guard Xaivian Lee and Ohio University shooting guard AJ Brown of Orlando. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Fland was the No. 3 combo guard in the 2024 class, per 247Sports, and the nation’s top transfer at his position after playing last season for John Calipari during his first season in Fayetteville.

Fland averaged 13.5 points and 5.1 assists in 2024-25, but injured his right thumb during a Jan. 11 loss to Florida, needed surgery and did not return until the postseason.

“He’s gonna make a huge jump going into his sophomore year,” Golden said. “He learned a lot, playing for Coach Cal, playing in that environment. We’re going to get the benefit of him kind of taking those lumps and learning a lot.”