The Toronto Raptors selected Florida guard Alijah Martin with the No. 39 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Martin became the second Florida player selected in the 2025 NBA Draft and the 6th drafted from the program across the last 12 years.
“A bunch of emotions right now, excited, nervous,” Martin said to ESPN’s Monica McNutt. “Just ready to get to the next level.”
The former Gator spent one season with the program and averaged 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Martin was the first collegiate player to start in a Final Four game with two different programs.
Before the 6-foot-2 guard joined the Gators, Martin spent four seasons with the Florida Atlantic Owls. There, he was named First Team All-Conference USA, Second Team All-American Athletic Conference and 2023 NCAA All-Tournament Team among several other awards.
Martin was the most coveted transfer acquired by Golden prior to Florida’s championship run. UF’s head coach was intentional about gaining a defensive-minded guard heading into the 2024-25 season, and Martin contributed to UF’s 6th-best defense in the nation.
Despite spending just one season with Florida, Martin ranks top-10 in steals, three-pointers and points among transfers in program history. He finished the year earning 2025 NABC All-District Second Team honors and was one of 10 finalists for the 2025 Jerry West Award.
His most notable performance with the Gators came when Martin exploded for 32 points against Southern Illinois Nov. 22. The Florida guard logged eight three-pointers, which is tied for the most by a UF player at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in program history.
The former Florida guard will join a Raptors backcourt led by Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. The Raptors finished the 2025 NBA season with a 30-52 record.
Contact Luke Adragna at ladragna@alligator.org. Follow him on X @lukeadrag.
Luke Adragna is working his fifth semester at The Alligator and returns as the Summer 2025 assistant sports editor. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his cat Pete and researching niche professional athletes (shoutout Jacquizz Rodgers).
