Florida guard Riley Kugel, (possibly) commited to the Cowbells.......we'll see.....

Certainly no tampering there, lol. 24 hours in the portal?

 

Had the same thought - that's some quick work - and quite an impressive final 4 to choose from.

 

I mean i guess it’s possible he had relationships with those coaches from his hs recruitment. No doubt he could get offers that fast, but to have it all narrowed down that quickly sure seems like he was talking to other schools before he entered the portal. I didn’t follow him in hs, so don’t know where all his offers and visits were the first go around.

 

I don’t think he will end up at any one of those 4 teams.

 

Honestly a bad decision if he goes to any of these IMO. Maybe he genuinely feels he wasn't being developed, but if that's the case given how other players have progressed under TG I would say that it's a bad assessment.
His best path was to go to a small mid-major we he could be the star and focal point of the offense again. Unless he grows into his potential, he'll ride the bench more and get a smaller NIL at those 4 schools than he ever did at UF, because right now he's not cut out to be a starter on a team with players as good or better than him.

 

That is how NIL operates. All those teams and more have likely been in contact with RK for weeks if not months.

 

lol, is nil a being now?

 

You'd have to completely naive to have not figured during the later part of the season, when he didn't see the court for a number of games. That #1 it wasn't looking good for him being a Gator beyond this season #2 that teams were reaching out to him via back channels about the transfer portal......

 

I wonder if those two missed games had anything to do with potential tampering/portal stuff.

 

I actually think if we can retain everyone we want to retain (Kugel was always going to be a maybe), we don’t have that big of a hole to fill, especially if we see sophomore jumps from Condor and Hawk and Aberdeen takes that next step. We saw glimpses at season’s end. It’s really about finding a polished floor general and either Condo slides into the 4 (and Handlogten is ready to go at the 5) or we target a solid PF. we really only have 3 more spots to fill…I’d love to see us go after a 6’6 - 6’8 wing player….as I think the German Consontant will be ready to contribute as well. Gotta keep Clayton and Richard, of course…..

 

Yes and it kind of ticks me off...

 

Riley needs to go somewhere that he'll be a starter. I bet he comes off the bench on all of those teams.

 

oh

 

Chris Harry seems to be hinting that Shimmy might leave the program. I hope not. I also think that Haugh has the mobility and skill level to play the 3. A big-time big man at the 5, with Condon and Hough at the 4 and 3, respectively, could give us the best frontcourt that we have had since the glory days.

 

Based on styles of play, I don't see Houston being an option for him. I just never saw him as a defensive guy first and that seems to be a requirement for them. If his list is accurate, Arizona would be the fit, but that's just my 2 cents. I would be happy to root for him at any of those places over somewhere in conference.

 

This is not a knock on TG, but every player on the Gators who went elsewhere for this past season did better elsewhere. FYI, I asked on a different thread if any former Gators made it into the NCAA tournament this season. No one responded. The answer was CJ Felder at McNeese.

 

Maybe this is RK's bracket picks for the Final Four.

 

So basically they played better for worse teams?

 

Honestly, that's what I thought at first.

 

That is true, but Kowacie Reeves became an unselfish player and started every game for Ga Tech, Jitoboh trimmed down, became an inside force and started every game for Tennessee State except when he was injured, Lane started every game for Delaware, Bonham put up big numbers at Chattanooga, Felder came off the bench for McNeese, and Fudge somehow managed to sign an NBA contract. I also wouldn’t be so quick to talk about playing better for worse teams. We brought in some guys from worse teams who turned out to be great.