A recent wave of court injunctions has reshaped the landscape of college basketball eligibility, granting several players an extra year of athletic eligibility under the NCAA’s newly implemented age‑based model.
Among those benefiting are former Florida Gators Xaivian Lee, Micah Handlogten and Riley Kugel, each of whom now faces a decision about where to continue their collegiate careers for the 2026‑27 season.
Lee, who directed the Gators’ offense with a 2.4 assist‑to‑turnover ratio last year, also logged 6.4 points per game during the NBA Summer League, though his three‑point shooting lingered at just 21.4 percent.
Handlogten, a 7‑foot‑1 center, contributed modestly with 3.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in limited minutes for the Utah Jazz, yet his presence on the court remains a draw for suitors such as Gonzaga, North Carolina State, Ole Miss and the University of Southern California.
Kugel, another Gators alumnus, averaged 4.0 points per game with the Los Angeles Clippers in the Summer League, but the future of his college eligibility remains tentative as he weighs his options.
Recruitment Landscape
Gonzaga has emerged as a primary suitor for Lee, though the guard has yet to commit to a program for the upcoming cycle, while Handlogten’s list of potential destinations includes NC State, Ole Miss and USC after UNC’s recent acquisition of Cameron Fens.
The broader implications are being tracked by analysts and fans alike, as the intersection of legal decisions, summer league performances and social‑media discourse shapes the next chapter for these former Gators.
Meanwhile, coverage of Florida Gators news continues to dominate conversations on Twitter, Facebook and the emerging platform Bluesky, underscoring the enduring interest in the team’s developments.