Former Princeton point guard Xaivian Lee commits to national champion Florida
Florida head coach Todd Golden gator chomps for the crowd as the team returns to the University of Florida after winning the NCAA national basketball championship, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr celebrates as national champions men's basketball team is honored during halftime of the Orange and Blue spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel via AP)
Florida head coach Todd Golden celebrates after Florida beat Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
FILE - Princeton guard Xaivian Lee (4) shoots against Navy during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Veterans Classic, Nov. 11, 2022, in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams, File)
FILE - Princeton guard Xaivian Lee (4) shoots against Navy during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Veterans Classic, Nov. 11, 2022, in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams, File)
Florida head coach Todd Golden gator chomps for the crowd as the team returns to the University of Florida after winning the NCAA national basketball championship, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr celebrates as national champions men's basketball team is honored during halftime of the Orange and Blue spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel via AP)
Florida head coach Todd Golden celebrates after Florida beat Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
FILE - Princeton guard Xaivian Lee (4) shoots against Navy during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Veterans Classic, Nov. 11, 2022, in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams, File)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Former Princeton guard Xaivian Lee committed to national champion Florida on Wednesday and should immediately help the Gators fill a huge hole in their uber-talented backcourt.
Lee announced his intention to sign with Florida on Instagram, posting pictures of himself in a Gators uniform superimposed over a swamp with an alligator head, a Canadian flag and the national championship trophy. At the bottom was one word: committed.
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Lee picked Florida over Kansas, St. John's and others.
The 6-foot-4 Toronto native was considered one of the top guards in the transfer portal after averaging 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists a game this season for the Tigers. He set the single-season school record with 165 assists and became the first play program history with a triple-double.
He averaged 17.1 points, 5.7 boards and 3.7 assists as a sophomore. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.
He should help the Gators immediately after losing All-American Walter Clayton Jr. and fellow standout guards Alijah Martin and Will Richard. All three expect to play professionally next season.
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Lee will join Denzel Aberdeen, Urban Klavzar and Isaiah Brown in Florida's backcourt. The Gators also hope to have big men Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, Thomas Haugh and Micah Handlogten back for another year; Condon entered the NBA draft while keeping open the possibility of returning to school for his junior season.
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