
Florida basketball forward Thomas Haugh is returning to defend national title next season
Florida basketball forward Thomas Haugh is returning to defend national title next season
Florida basketball forward Thomas Haugh will return to the Gators for the 2025-26 men's basketball season, according to a report by Swamp247.
Haugh, a 6-foot-9-inch sophomore, is set to enter his junior year at UF after providing valuable minutes off the bench during this past season. His decision to stay gives head coach Todd Golden a reliable frontcourt piece with two years of SEC experience.
In his second season with the Gators, Haugh averaged 9.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in just under 25 minutes per game. Haugh's ability to defend multiple positions and stretch the floor also proved critical in Florida's NCAA Tournament run.
His return solidifies depth in Florida's frontcourt, especially with starting forward Alex Condon declaring for the NBA draft.
A native of Pennsylvania, Haugh originally committed to UF as part of the 2023 recruiting class. With offseason transfers and NBA draft declarations, Haugh's return gives Florida a stable foundation heading into the next season.
The Gators look to build on their championship season, and Haugh is expected to serve as a prominent piece for next year as a starter.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
lorida Panthers prep for third straight Stanley Cup appearance
In the past three years, no team has played more games than the Florida Panthers, and if they repeat as Stanley Cup Champions, they'll be among the few teams in recent memory with as much success as them.


USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
How to watch Florida v East Carolina in Conway Regional today: Time, TV channel, streaming
How to watch Florida v East Carolina in Conway Regional today: Time, TV channel, streaming Florida baseball and the East Coast Pirates are headed for a rematch in the final game of the 2025 Conway Regional, and if you want to catch the early afternoon action on TV or live stream, we have the details you need to know just below. The Pirates walked the Gators on the plank in the regional opener with an 11-6 spanking, setting up a matchup with the bracket hosts, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, whom they absolutely torched on Saturday night to the tune of an 18-7 shellacking. The Orange and Blue set up the rematch by handing the Fairfield Stags a 17-2 defeat Saturday afternoon behind a strong effort from Aidan King. The freshman phenom threw eight innings of one-run ball, allowing the Gators to run up the score and keep their postseason hopes alive. Watch Florida vs East Carolina in Conway Regional live on ESPN+ Here's how to watch the Florida vs East Carolina game today, including time, TV schedule, and streaming information: What channel is Florida vs East Carolina on today? Florida vs East Carolina will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+. Florida vs East Carolina time today Date: Sunday, June 1 Sunday, June 1 Start time: Noon ET The Florida vs East Carolina game starts at noon ET from Spring Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.


Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
College Star Xaivian Lee Signs Signature Sneaker Deal
College basketball star Xaivian Lee has signed a sponsorship deal with Serious Player Only. College basketball star and NBA prospect Xaivian Lee already has a deal for a signature sneaker. The Toronto native who played at Princeton and is now with the University of Florida signed a deal with Serious Player Only for a multi-year brand sponsorship that includes a future signature shoe. 'SPO is a young and upcoming brand with a strong belief in their products and future,' Lee tells me, 'similar to how I view my own story.' Oigi Yang, CEO and co-founder of Serious Player Only, says that Lee brings innovation, craft and an unstoppable work ethic that can inspire. 'Xaivian is more than a rising star,' Yang says, 'he's a cultural bridge, and we're proud to walk this global journey with him. This partnership represents more than just a brand and athlete endorsement, it's a statement about the future of sports branding.' The new deal for Xaivian Lee includes a future signature sneaker. Yang says value-driven brands can stand 'toe-to-toe with legacy giants' by having a focused understanding of their audience. With basketball continuing to expand globally—and with young players—Lee says that upcoming athletes gaining more notoriety could be the future of sports branding. 'I wouldn't be surprised to see similar, innovating things like this in the future,' the 21-year-old says about signing a signature deal so early in his career. George Langberg, founder and CEO of GSL Sports Group, helped craft the sponsorship deal and says the combining of Lee and SPO offers a partnership where 'vision meets craftsmanship.' MORE: Xero Shoes Set To Release X1 Basketball Shoe Worn In NBA SPO, which already has Toronto Raptors Jonathan Mogbo, the first NBA player to sign with the brand, and a top-ranked high school point guard in Emilee Skinner, adding Lee will be about more than just another name on the roster. The brand has committed to a future signature shoe, immediate signature colorway releases and full creative freedom in a collaborative design process as the brand looks to amplify Lee's influence 'across Asia and North America.' Xaivian Lee is from Toronto and will play at Florida next season after playing at Princeton ... More previously. 'I'm excited to be a part of the creative process in both the shoes and clothing,' Lee says. 'I want to inject my sense of style into their already existing ideas and create something special.' From a performance point of view, Lee says SPO's different sneaker models 'strike a nice balance of performance, functionality and style.' A key feature of SPO footwear is the interchangeable insoles, providing differing performance needs. 'I enjoy the optionality with the different insoles to adjust to my needs,' Lee says. Lee's looking forward to seeing where Serios Player Only heads and how he can be a part of that. 'Looking for a brand to partner with, I thought Serious Player Only has a really good vision on where they want to be,' he says. 'I'm really excited to see where the brand can go in the future and how I can be a part of that and help bolster it even more. I love seeing how Serious Player Only is growing across regions and building something unique globally as a young and upcoming brand.' MORE: On's The Roger Footwear Line Modernizing And Growing