Gators Basketball Reporter Jeffrey is the Fall 2026 men's basketball reporter and a third-year journalism sports & media major with a media, management and production minor. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends and family and rooting for the Miami sports teams.
A first-year SEC head coach may lack experience against some of the teams they face in their opening season; however, for Jon Sumrall, that is not the case against Ole Miss. Last season, Sumrall faced the Rebels twice as Tulane’s head coach and lost both times.
In Florida’s last game of the 2025-26 season, a 73-72 loss to Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Chinyelu was held to a season-low 0 points and one rebound. That game tacked on a sour end to his historic season.
Florida men’s basketball will host Stetson in an exhibition game on Oct. 27, with tipoff set for 7 p.m., per release.
With less than two months before Florida’s season opener against Miami in Tampa, UF students can feel the excitement building for the men’s basketball team.
Former Florida center Micah Handlogten has committed to Ole Miss for his fifth year of college basketball, On3’s Joe Tipton reported Friday.
Former Gator Xaivian Lee transferred to Gonzaga Wednesday after receiving a temporary restraining order from the state of California, per On3’s Joe Tipton. This move comes after Lee announced that he planned to enter the transfer portal on Aug. 18, seeking a new opportunity in his fifth collegiate season.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 in favor of halting the U.S. District Court of Colorado's ruling that granted thousands of college athletes who were freshmen during the 2022-23 season an extra year of eligibility, which included Denzel Aberdeen.
Now, as teams and athletes await the NCAA’s eligibility rules for the upcoming athletic season, many programs are forced to question what players they may be able to roster in 2026. For example, Florida is looking to transfer guard Denzel Aberdeen to get his waiver for a fifth year approved.
Fresh off a 2025 national championship and a 2026 Southeastern Conference regular-season title, Florida has become one of the prominent basketball programs over the last few years. Moreover, the Gators have lost just three home games in as many seasons, making the O’Connell Center one of the hardest college arenas to play in.
The final piece to Florida’s 2026-27 roster is finalized, with the NCAA approving Denzel Aberdeen’s waiver for a fifth year at Florida on Friday.
The Ice Cream Vault, located at 14841 Main St. in Alachua, welcomes teens to its second-floor event space on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Solutions by The State News
