Florida basketball coach Todd Golden’s selective approach in the transfer portal garnered him back-to-back top-10 classes.
“Quality over quantity” has become a guiding principle for Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden’s transfer portal strategy. As teams hurry to fill rosters through the web, analytics experts praise Golden’s careful approach.
According to Evan Miyakawa, a prominent figure in college basketball analytics, Florida had the tenth-best average quality of transfers this summer. With an amazing average ranking of 4.02, the Gators are in good company, outperforming traditional powerhouses such as Kentucky, Connecticut, and Tennessee.
Which teams are getting the highest quality transfers?
Any team can load up on players in the portal, but the quality of those incoming transfers often is more important. Here are the teams with the highest average transfer rating at https://t.co/cegyfz96ax: pic.twitter.com/f8icwHSsGh
— Evan Miyakawa (@EvanMiya) June 4, 2024
At the center of this measure is Florida Atlantic transfer Alijah Martin, whom Miyakawa regards as the Gators’ best gateway acquisition. Martin, a four-year veteran, brings a well-rounded game to Gainesville, averaging 11.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 36.9% from three-point range for the Owls.
Martin will be joined by Chattanooga forward Sam Alexis and Washington State big Rueben Chinyelu, adding to Florida’s frontcourt strength. With two roster places still open, Golden’s recruiting abilities might help the Gators’ status even more.
This is not Golden’s first trip through the portal. Last year, he signed All-American candidate Walter Clayton Jr., Zyon Pullin, Tyrese Samuel, Micah Handlogten, and Julian Rishwain, ranking Florida as Miyakawa’s sixth-best incoming transfer class.
Florida has high expectations for the 2024/25 season after reaching the SEC Tournament finals and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Multiple publications have ranked the Gators in their “Way too early” top 25, and considering these transfers, it is not unrealistic to believe Florida will make a run to the Sweet 16 and beyond this season.
