After three seasons at Florida, center Micah Handlogten intends to enter the transfer portal, as first reported by On3’s Joe Tipton.
Handlogten is waiting on a medical hardship waiver that would afford the current senior another year of eligibility.
The 7-foot-1 center originally began his career at Marshall University before transferring to Florida ahead of the 2023-24 season.
In his first season with the Gators, Handlogten started 32 games, averaging 5.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. In UF’s SEC Tournament Championship bout against Auburn March 17, 2024, Handlogten fractured his lower left leg, which jeopardized his availability for the following season.
However, with seven games remaining in the regular season, Handlogten decided to waive his injury redshirt to rejoin the Gators for their stretch run towards March Madness in 2025.
In 16 games played, Handlogten averaged 2.6 points and 4.9 rebounds. He had 2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a block in Florida’s national title victory over Houston April 7, 2025.
This past season, Handlogten served primarily as a backup to junior center Rueben Chinyelu. In 14.8 minutes per game, Handlogten averaged 4.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest.
He scored in double-figures five times, including in Florida’s 114-55 Round of 64 victory over Prairie View A&M March 20.
After Florida's season ended March 22, Handlogten was subsequently named the recipient of the 2026 Lt. Fred Koss Award, which recognizes a player whose contributions to the program embody the ideals of selfless courage and conviction in the team's pursuit of success.
"In my opinion, Micah is the most unselfish basketball player to ever play at the University of Florida and exemplifies the ideals of this most prestigious Florida Basketball Award," Golden said.
Handlogten is the second Gator who is reportedly entering the transfer portal when it opens at midnight Tuesday. Olivier Rioux, the 7-foot-9 center, announced March 31 that he would be entering the portal.
Meanwhile, Chinyelu, Florida's starting center for the past two seasons, has not yet announced if he will return to Florida or if he is declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
Max is a junior sports journalism student in his seventh semester at The Alligator. He serves as The Alligator's assistant sports editor and football beat coordinator. He previously served as The Alligator's sports editor and as a reporter for football, women's tennis, volleyball, lacrosse and sports enterprise. He also has made multiple appearances on the Paul Finebaum Show. Max wants to shoutout his cats, Scooter and Zoe, and niche former Florida Panthers players (shoutout Maxim Mamin).
